Operationalizing Principle-Based Standards for Animal Welfare—Indicators for Climate Problems in Pig Houses

Dutch farms that probably do not comply with the legal principle-based standard for climate in pig houses can be identified based on a limited set of measurements. The results may encourage pig farmers to improve climatic conditions, but can also justify subsequent investigation to substantiate noncompliance with the legal animal welfare standards. This was concluded after farm data collection by inspectors on 96 farms with weaners or growing–finishing pigs. Analysis of the data revealed that CO2 and NH3 concentrations; pig fouling; and ear, tail, and eye scores can be used as indicators of suboptimal climatic conditions