RECONCILING PRODUCTIVITY AND WELFARE IN INTENSIVE PIG HUSBANDRY - A CHALLENGE FOR THE YEAR 2000

In the first part of this paper, the authors discuss the growing conce rn of consumers for farm animal welfare, and the attitude adopted by v eterinarians to cope with this new and more humanitarian concept of in tensive husbandry. The effects of intensification of pig production on the ability of pigs to adapt, and the behavioural, husbandry and heal th consequences of the principal stress factors in pig rearing are rev iewed and illustrated by examples from recent research. In conclusion, the authors discuss the importance of constructive integration of wel fare into pig production, in training courses and in actual applicatio n.