Don’t spoil pigs too much

Pigs are remarkably adaptable and very versatile, writes welfare and production expert Dr Irene Camerlink. That is a characteristic the swine industry would have to embrace more – and not spoil them too much. This column reflects her presentation at the recent edition of ESPHM, held in Bern, Switzerland, in May 2025. A paradox Pigs can be found on nearly every continent. While young piglets can easily become hypothermic, and adult pigs quickly suffer from heat stress, pigs do survive