Animal welfare gains ground in national pig farming

Brazilian pig farming maintains a leading global position both in production volume and competitiveness. In 2024, Brazil produced 5.3 million tons of pork, with a herd of 46.6 million animals slaughtered and 2.1 million active breeding sows. The National Supply Company (Conab) reported that there was a 2.9% increase from the previous year and a 52.8% growth over the last ten years, keeping the country in the fourth position among the largest producers and exporters since 2015, behind only China, the European Union, and the United States. Asia remains the main destination for national pork. The Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore accounted for 63.8% of exports — about 775 thousand tons. In this context, investment in animal welfare has become a strategic factor for international trade. Conab highlighted that "the increasing demand from importing countries makes the adaptation of management practices a competitive advantage." In the European Union, the use of ...