Whether pigs are raised indoors or outdoors, quality standards and good management practices must be followed to guarantee their welfare.

These standards are established and monitored by the Certified Humane® Institute, the representative in Latin America and Asia of Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the leading international organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals and responsible for the Certified Humane® animal welfare certification seal.

Raising pigs in inadequate environments leads to a range of negative consequences.

When forced to live in overcrowded spaces without proper ventilation to remove dust and harmful gases (such as ammonia), or when exposed to excessive heat or cold without shelter, pigs experience prolonged stress and metabolic disorders. These conditions can weaken the immune system, affect meat appearance, and reduce product quality.

Providing proper care and suitable environments for each type of pig facilitates management and reduces operating costs.

Specific Requirements

In addition to nutrition, handling, and farm management, each governed by specific standards, the environment where pigs are raised must not be improvised or deficient.

Housing must be designed to provide comfort and calm throughout all production stages, enabling pigs to meet their physiological and behavioral needs.

This means providing appropriate environments for each category, adults, breeding females, and piglets, according to their specific requirements.

For example, sows in farrowing areas must have straw bedding, nesting material, and a resting space large enough to turn around freely.

Crates are strictly prohibited!

Housing requirements for piglets specify minimum resting areas and total space per animal based on growth stage. These areas must increase as pigs grow and gain weight.

In general, all pigs must be kept in environments that do not cause discomfort, stress, or injuries. Toxic materials or surfaces coated with unapproved paints or disinfectants must not be used.

Housing must provide adequate ventilation, comfortable temperatures, and bedding (such as straw or rubber flooring) in sufficient space for all animals to lie down comfortably.

Detailed measurements and requirements for housing at each production stage, as well as standards for other farm animal species, are described in the Certified Humane® animal welfare program guidelines.

Herd Health

Pig health and welfare are ensured through a set of good-practice standards, including:

• Appropriate environments tailored to species-specific needs;
• Nutrition formulated according to production stage and access to fresh, quality water;
• Calm handling using proper tools;
• Responsible and rigorous production management.

Additional care is also required.

Every pig production system must have a written Animal Health Plan (AHP), regularly updated by a veterinarian. The plan details vaccination schedules, health treatments (such as parasite control), causes of disease, mortality data, and more. All sudden deaths must be recorded and investigated.

Herd performance must be continuously monitored to detect disease signs or disturbances, such as unexpected weight loss. Facilities must allow for the immediate separation and treatment of sick or injured pigs.

Farms must also be prepared, when necessary, for trained staff or a veterinarian to carry out humane euthanasia on-site for animals that are severely ill or injured with no chance of recovery, ensuring suffering is not prolonged.

Protocols must also exist for quarantining incoming pigs and for carcass disposal.

By respecting all conditions that ensure ideal management and environments that minimize stress, farms can guarantee pig welfare. Products from such systems are eligible for Certified Humane® certification, earning market and consumer trust.

→ Learn everything about animal welfare certification now.

Developed from scientific research, veterinary recommendations, and producers’ experience, the Certified Humane® standard for dairy cattle establishes species-specific requirements. By complying, producers earn the right to display the Certified Humane® seal on product labels and in company marketing communications.

Proper nutrition and the environment in which cattle are raised are detailed in specific chapters of the standard, including particular requirements so calves and bulls can feed, exercise, and rest safely without injury.

Follow along to discover practical tips for dairy cattle nutrition and housing.

Nutrition of dairy cattle

Cattle must have access to a diet that is healthy and appropriate for their age and production stage, in sufficient quantity for all animals. Certain feeds and veterinary products are strictly prohibited.

Practical recommendations:

• Feed containing protein derived from mammals or birds is prohibited, except milk and milk by-products;
• Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) must not be used to stimulate productivity;
• Cattle must never be fed antibiotics, ionophores, coccidiostats, or other substances to promote performance, feed efficiency, or milk yield;
• Antibiotics for disease treatment may only be administered under veterinary guidance;
• Adult cattle and calves over 30 days old must receive fiber sources that stimulate rumination;
• Dairy cows should be fed primarily quality pasture and forage in sufficient quantity;
• Feeders must be clean, easily accessible, and provide enough space for all animals to eat simultaneously;
• The entire herd must have daily access to clean, fresh drinking water, with contingency supply for emergencies such as drought;
• All animals must maintain a body condition score of at least 2, according to the standard’s classification table

Nutritional requirements for calves

Calf nutrition must meet specific requirements to ensure healthy development:

• Calves must have constant access to clean, fresh water from the first week of life;

• Newborn calves must receive 2–4 liters of colostrum from the mother, another recently calved cow, or frozen colostrum within the first 6 hours of life;
• Calves must not be weaned before 5 weeks of age, and weaning should be gradual by diluting milk with water;
• After 30 days of life, calves must receive daily feed or forage containing digestible fiber.

Suitable environment for dairy cattle

Housing must not cause physical, thermal, or emotional discomfort and must allow natural behaviors. Animals must have full freedom of movement to lie down, stand up, turn around, groom, and stretch. Tethering is strictly prohibited.

Key recommendations:

• Farms must keep records including total floor area, number of pens or stalls, resting space size, maximum stocking density by age and weight, and feeder and drinker availability;
• Floors must be non-slip and free from elements that cause recurring injuries;
• Barn height must allow normal behavior during mating season, and passageways must permit safe movement without hoof damage;
• Animals housed in loose systems must have shelter from wind and access to a dry, well-drained resting area with sufficient space and comfort; shade structures must accommodate all animals simultaneously;
• Loose housing must provide at least 5.6 m² per adult cow so they can lie down at the same time;
• Bedding must be at least 7.5 cm deep; suitable substrate or rubber flooring (minimum 2.54 cm thick) may be used to absorb moisture;
• Ammonia concentration must not exceed 25 ppm in extreme cases;
• Ventilation must maintain relative humidity below 80%, and lighting must allow inspection at any time;
• Calving areas must be clean, dry or well-drained, and have access to water;
• Milking parlors must be kept extremely clean; milking equipment must be frequently calibrated and properly maintained.

Housing requirements for bulls and calves

Specific requirements also apply to bulls and calves:

• Bulls must have individual housing areas of at least 14 m²; large bulls require 1 m² of resting space per 60 kg of body weight and at least 28 m² of exercise area;
• After weaning, calves must be grouped by similar age and size and have access to an outdoor area;
• Calves must have a resting area in solid-floor housing (no slats) with clean, dry bedding and adequate slope for drainage; individual housing is permitted up to 8 weeks of age with appropriate space for age, size, and breed.

Based on scientific research, professional recommendations, and recognized best animal-management practices, the animal welfare standard for broiler production developed by Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) presents the approved Certified Humane® requirements for the rearing, handling, transport, and slaughter of broiler chickens. A full chapter (Part 3 – Environment) of the standard is dedicated to facilities.

Would you like to learn more about how to design housing that promotes broiler welfare, including flooring type, bedding, electrical systems, and optimal lighting design? Read on.

Facility records that support welfare

The Certified Humane® program requires a record for each flock that includes a checklist of critical control points related to bird welfare. This record must be continuously updated and readily available whenever an HFAC inspector requests it.

The checklist of critical points must include:

• Total area available to the birds;
• Total number of birds;
• Total number of drinkers and feeders or total linear feeder space;
• Feeding program;
• Target air-quality and temperature parameters by age;
• Lighting schedule and levels;
• Emergency procedures (for example, actions in case of fire, flooding, automatic equipment failure, or when ammonia or temperature exceed acceptable limits).

Electrical Installations

When designing electrical systems, it is essential to ensure that:

• Birds cannot access them;
• They are properly insulated;
• They are protected from rodents;
• They are correctly grounded;
• They are periodically checked for electrical leakage.

Floor Design

Broiler housing must have flooring that can be effectively cleaned and disinfected to prevent the buildup of parasites and disease-causing agents.

Concrete floors are recommended instead of dirt floors because they allow more effective cleaning and disinfection.

Concrete Floors

Concrete floors in broiler houses must be solid, smooth, and durable. They should not have large holes or cracks, and any damage must be properly repaired.

Bedding

All broiler housing must have the entire floor covered with suitable bedding that provides comfort. Birds must have continuous access to this bedding.

Appropriate broiler litter must:

• Consist of material with suitable particle size;
• Be high quality (clean, dry, low dust, and absorbent);
• Be turned to remain loose and dry;
• Have sufficient depth to dilute droppings;
• Prevent excessive fecal contamination of birds’ feet;
• Allow birds to perform dust-bathing behavior;
• Be periodically redistributed and topped up with fresh material when needed.

Lighting Program Design

Certified Humane® standards require that the lighting program in broiler facilities be designed to reduce leg problems and ensure adequate rest. Birds must receive at least six continuous hours of darkness each day.

Light Intensity

Throughout the day, lighting levels must allow birds to see caretakers and enable easy inspection. The lighting system must provide an average of at least 20 lux across the entire housing area.

→ Want to learn more about broiler chicken welfare? Access the full HFAC Broiler Production Standard: https://download.certifiedhumaneasia.org/chickens-broiler

Nutritional deficiencies or restricted access to feed are often the initial triggers that lead hens to start feather pecking and eventually cannibalism, but they are not the only causes. 

Excessive lighting, lack of space and hygiene, inadequate housing, or aggression can also act as stress factors that induce pecking behavior.

When birds are raised under proper conditions, with adequate nutrition, sufficient space, and ensured welfare, they are free to express natural and healthy behaviors.

Continue reading to learn how to prevent cannibalism in laying hens and understand the importance of following animal welfare requirements.

Warning signs that hens may develop cannibalistic behavior

Just as multiple factors can stress laying hens to the point of cannibalism, there are also clear signs that indicate when birds may be developing this abnormal behavior. Producers should watch for: 

• Sudden changes in flock management, including staff changes;
• Downy feathers appearing on the dorsal tail area, or broken feathers on the tail, wings, or behind the head;
• Competition for feed and water at feeders and drinkers; 
• Declining egg production;
• Birds living in excessive dirt or showing body wounds; 
• Birds with more abdominal fat than normal;
• Restricted or prevented access to outdoor areas in free-range systems (birds may become frustrated when confined indoors).

Individually or together, these signs indicate that essential management practices may be inadequate.

The earlier feather pecking is detected, the lower the production losses and welfare impacts. If no action is taken, the situation can escalate into severe cannibalism.

How to prevent this behavior

One effective way to prevent cannibalism is to follow an animal welfare program such as Certified Humane®, which helps: 

• Prevent lice, parasites, and diseases;
• Keep dogs and other predators away from the flock;
• Provide a balanced diet in adequate quantities;
• Maintain clean housing free of sharp objects, excessive lighting, and improper temperatures;
• Provide sufficient bedding, perches, feeders, and drinkers for all birds;
• Ensure trained staff handle birds calmly and carefully;
• Perform minimal beak trimming if necessary, in accordance with animal welfare standards;

These measures are essential for cage-free poultry production throughout all life stages, ensuring proper management and preventing stress-induced behavioral changes such as cannibalism.

Importance of following welfare requirements for hens

Clear, objective, and purpose-driven, welfare requirements for laying hens provide producers with a compassionate production standard to follow.

Internationally proven, the Certified Humane® animal welfare standard improves animals’ lives while producing high-quality products.

→ Laying hen production: learn the requirements for pullet rearing and flock management.