# Farrowing and Nursery Barn Lighting for Worker Safety ## Key Takeaways - Target light levels for general farrowing and nursery work should be 100-150 lux, increasing to 200-300 lux for detailed tasks like piglet processing, castration, and tail docking, measured at floor or task level. - Utilize LED fixtures with a color temperature of 4000K-5000K and a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 80+ for optimal visual acuity and accurate color perception of animal health indicators. - Employ sealed LED fixtures with an IP67 rating or higher in washdown environments to prevent moisture ingress, dust accumulation, and corrosion from ammonia, ensuring worker safety and fixture longevity. - Strategically mount fixtures over walkways and work zones, angled to reduce worker-induced shadows, and implement two rows of fixtures in farrowing rooms to ensure uniform illumination and minimize glare. - Install battery backup or generator-tied emergency lighting along primary exit paths and critical work areas, with monthly testing to ensure functionality during power outages, mitigating risks of slips, falls, and animal-related injuries. - Implement a proactive maintenance schedule including monthly fixture cleaning and visual inspections for flickering or reduced output, alongside quarterly lux level measurements and annual system reviews to maintain optimal lighting conditions. --- Lighting in farrowing and nursery barns is often treated as an afterthought, something to be installed once and forgotten until a bulb burns out. That approach creates real hazards for you and your crew. Poor lighting hides trip hazards, makes it hard to see sow behavior, strains eyes, and increases the risk of mistakes during routine tasks like processing piglets or assisting a difficult birth. This guide covers the practical side of pig barn lighting safety, including light levels for different tasks, fixture selection, placement, wiring, maintenance, and how to build a simple monitoring routine. It is written for farm owners, herd managers, and employees who work in farrowing and nursery rooms and want a safer, more efficient work environment. ## At a Glance - **Target light levels:** Aim for 100 to 150 lux at floor level for general farrowing work. Use 200 to 300 lux for close tasks like processing, castration, and tail docking. Nursery rooms need 100 to 150 lux for daily checks and 200 lux for cleaning and sorting. - **Color temperature:** Use 4000K to 5000K fixtures in work areas. This range supports visual acuity without the harsh glare of higher Kelvin ratings. - **Fixture type:** Sealed LED fixtures rated IP67 or higher are the best choice for washdown environments. They resist moisture, dust, and ammonia corrosion. - **Placement:** Mount fixtures directly over walkways and work zones, not over the sow's head. Angle light to reduce shadows cast by your own body. - **Emergency lighting:** Install battery backup or generator-tied lighting along primary exit paths. Test it monthly. - **Glare control:** Use diffusers or indirect fixtures to prevent direct glare into workers' eyes. Position fixtures so light comes from behind and to the side of the worker. - **Maintenance schedule:** Clean fixtures monthly and replace any unit showing yellowing, flicker, or reduced output. Keep a log of failures. - **Recordkeeping:** Track lux readings, fixture replacements, and cleaning dates in a simple logbook or spreadsheet. ## Why Lighting Matters in Farrowing and Nursery Barns ### The Hidden Danger of Dim Barns A farrowing crate room is one of the most physically demanding environments in swine production. You are constantly bending, lifting, reaching, and moving between crates. The floor is often wet or slick with manure slurry. Sows are large animals that can shift position suddenly. Piglets are small, fast, and easy to miss underfoot. In this setting, inadequate lighting is not just an inconvenience. It is a direct contributor to slips, falls, and crushing injuries. Consider the visual demands of a typical farrowing check. You walk down an alley between two rows of crates. You need to spot a sow that is restless or showing signs of farrowing difficulty. You need to count piglets, check for signs of crushing, and identify a pale or lethargic piglet quickly. You might need to read an ear tag or a treatment record. All of these tasks require enough light to see clearly, and enough contrast to distinguish subtle differences in color and behavior. When light levels drop below what the eye needs for a given task, your brain compensates by making you lean closer, squint, or pause to let your eyes adjust. Each of those adjustments puts you in a more awkward position and slows your reaction time. Over the course of a long shift, the cumulative effect is fatigue, headaches, and a higher chance of making a costly mistake. ### How the Eye Responds to Different Light Levels The human eye is remarkably adaptable, but adaptation takes time. When you step from bright outdoor sunlight into a dim barn, your pupils dilate and your retinas begin a chemical adjustment that can take several minutes. During that adjustment period, your depth perception is worse and your peripheral vision is reduced. This is especially dangerous in a farrowing room where a sow can move without warning. At the other extreme, excessively bright light causes glare, which reduces contrast and makes it harder to see fine detail. Glare is a particular problem when fixtures are mounted low and shine directly into your line of sight, or when light bounces off wet concrete and shiny metal surfaces. The goal of good barn lighting is to provide enough light for the task, evenly distributed, without glare or harsh shadows. This requires attention to both the quantity of light (measured in lux or foot-candles) and the quality of light (color temperature, uniformity, and direction). ### The Cost of Poor Lighting The financial impact of poor lighting is rarely calculated, but it is real. Workers who cannot see well work slower. They make more errors during processing, which can lead to missed injections, improper tail docking, or inadequate iron administration. They are more likely to miss a sow in early farrowing, leading to more stillborn piglets. They may fail to spot a piglet being crushed until it is too late. Injuries to workers are even more costly. A slip or fall in a farrowing room can result in sprains, fractures, or head injuries. A worker who is kicked or stepped on by a startled sow because they did not see her move can suffer serious trauma. Beyond the direct medical costs, an injury means lost time, potential workers' compensation claims, and a shortage of experienced labor on your farm. ## Understanding Light Measurements for Pig Barns ### Lux and Foot-Candles Light levels are measured in lux (lumens per square meter) or foot-candles (lumens per square foot). One foot-candle equals approximately 10.8 lux. In the United States, many farmers still think in foot-candles, while most lighting manufacturers and international guidelines use lux. This guide uses lux as the primary unit, with foot-candle equivalents noted where helpful. For practical purposes, here are the light levels you should target in different areas of a farrowing or nursery barn: | Area or Task | Target Light Level | Foot-Candle Equivalent | |---|---|---| | General farrowing room, walkways | 100 to 150 lux | 10 to 14 fc | | Close work: processing, castration, injections | 200 to 300 lux | 20 to 28 fc | | Nursery room, general observation | 100 to 150 lux | 10 to 14 fc | | Nursery sorting and weighing | 200 to 300 lux | 20 to 28 fc | | Medication and supply storage | 200 lux | 20 fc | | Emergency egress paths | 10 lux minimum | 1 fc | These are working light levels measured at the task surface, not at the fixture. A light meter is an inexpensive tool that every barn should have. You can buy a decent digital lux meter for less than the cost of a single fixture, and it will pay for itself the first time you discover that a supposedly adequate room is actually delivering only 50 lux at floor level. ### Color Temperature and Color Rendering Color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), describes the visual warmth or coolness of light. Lower Kelvin values (2700K to 3000K) produce a warm, yellowish light similar to an old incandescent bulb. Higher values (5000K to 6500K) produce a cool, bluish light similar to daylight. For work areas, 4000K to 5000K is the practical sweet spot. This range provides good contrast for seeing subtle color differences, which matters when you are trying to distinguish a healthy pink piglet from a pale one, or spot the early signs of scours. Light in this range also supports better color rendering, meaning that the colors of medications, disinfectants, and warning labels appear closer to their true appearance. Color rendering index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source reproduces colors compared to natural daylight. A CRI of 80 or above is acceptable for general barn work. A CRI of 90 or above is preferable for tasks where color discrimination is important, such as checking mucous membranes or identifying skin lesions. ### Uniformity and Shadows Even light distribution is as important as total light output. A room with one bright fixture over the center aisle and dark corners at the ends will force workers to work in shadows. The human eye constantly adjusts as you move between bright and dark zones, which causes fatigue and reduces your ability to see sudden movements. A good rule of thumb is that the light level at the darkest point in a work area should be at least one-third of the light level at the brightest point. This is called a uniformity ratio of 3 to 1. Achieving this requires careful fixture spacing. Shadows are a separate problem. When you stand between a light source and your work, your body casts a shadow over the task. This is a common complaint in farrowing rooms where a single row of fixtures runs down the center of the room. The solution is to mount fixtures in two rows, offset to either side of the walkway, so that light comes from two directions. This reduces the impact of any single shadow and makes it easier to see what you are doing. ## Types of Lighting Fixtures for Pig Barns ### LED Is the Clear Choice Light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures have become the standard for livestock facilities, and for good reason. They are energy efficient, which matters when you are running lights for many hours each day. They have a long service life, often rated for 50,000 hours or more. They tolerate cold temperatures well, which is important in barns that are ventilated heavily in summer. And they are available in sealed, washdown-rated housings that can withstand the harsh environment of a farrowing or nursery room. Older technologies have real drawbacks in pig barns. Fluorescent tubes are fragile, contain small amounts of mercury, and their performance degrades in cold temperatures. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient and produce more heat than light. High-pressure sodium and metal halide fixtures produce a warm, yellowish light with poor color rendering, and they take time to warm up to full brightness. LED fixtures are not all equal, however. The quality of the LEDs, the driver electronics, and the housing all affect performance and lifespan. Buying the cheapest fixture you can find often means replacing it within a year or two, which erases any upfront savings. ### Sealed Fixtures for Washdown Environments Farrowing and nursery rooms are washed down between groups. That means fixtures are exposed to high-pressure water, disinfectants, and ammonia vapor from manure. A fixture that is not properly sealed will fail quickly, and worse, it can become a shock hazard. Look for fixtures with an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of IP67 or higher. The first digit (6) means the fixture is completely dust-tight. The second digit (7) means it can be immersed in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes without damage. This level of protection is sufficient for washdown with a pressure washer. The fixture housing should be made of corrosion-resistant material. Polycarbonate housings are common and work well. Stainless steel is more durable but heavier and more expensive. Avoid fixtures with painted metal housings, as the paint will chip and rust will follow. ### Mounting Height and Spacing The mounting height of your fixtures determines how much area each one covers and how uniform the light is. A fixture mounted low, say 8 feet above the floor, will produce a bright pool of light directly beneath it and rapid falloff to the sides. A fixture mounted higher, say 12 to 14 feet, will spread light over a larger area with better uniformity, but you will need a fixture with higher total output to maintain the same floor-level lux. As a starting point, mount fixtures 10 to 12 feet above the floor in farrowing rooms. Space them so that the distance between fixtures is no more than 1.5 times the mounting height. For example, with fixtures at 10 feet, spacing should be no more than 15 feet apart. In practice, farrowing rooms often need two rows of fixtures, one over each walkway, rather than a single center row. In nursery rooms, mounting height can be slightly lower, around 8 to 10 feet, because the rooms are typically smaller and the tasks are less varied. The same spacing rule applies. ### Emergency and Backup Lighting A sudden power failure in a farrowing room is dangerous. Sows can panic, piglets can be crushed, and workers can be left in complete darkness with large animals moving around them. Every barn should have emergency lighting that operates independently of the main power supply. Battery backup fixtures are the simplest solution. These are LED fixtures with an internal battery that keeps them lit for 90 minutes or more after a power loss. Install them along the primary exit path and at the main work stations. Test them monthly by pressing the test button or cutting power to the circuit. If your farm has a standby generator, make sure the lighting circuits are on the generator panel. A generator that powers ventilation but not lights leaves you in the dark during an outage. Also verify that the transfer switch works properly and that the generator starts reliably under load. ## Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrading Your Barn Lighting ### Step 1: Measure Current Light Levels Before you change anything, measure the light levels in your existing barn. Use a digital lux meter and take readings at multiple points in each room. Measure at floor level in the walkways, at the working surface in the crates, and at the back of the crates where sows lie. Record your readings on a simple floor plan sketch. Mark the location of each fixture and note which fixtures are dim, flickering, or dead. This baseline gives you a clear picture of where the problem areas are and helps you prioritize your upgrade. ### Step 2: Define the Tasks and Work Zones Walk through the room and list every task that happens there. In a farrowing room, that includes daily sow checks, piglet processing, assisting farrowing, cleaning between groups, and moving sows in and out. In a nursery room, it includes daily health checks, feeding, sorting pigs by size, weighing, and washing pens. For each task, note the light level needed and the direction the worker faces. A worker processing piglets at a cart in the center aisle needs bright light from above and slightly behind them. A worker checking sows at the back of a crate needs light that reaches into the crate without casting the worker's shadow over the sow's head. ### Step 3: Choose Fixtures That Match Your Environment Select LED fixtures with an IP67 rating and a color temperature of 4000K to 5000K. Choose fixtures with a CRI of 80 or higher. For washdown areas, choose fixtures with a smooth, sealed lens that will not trap dust or moisture. Consider the beam angle of the fixture. A narrow beam angle (around 60 degrees) concentrates light in a small area and is useful for task lighting. A wide beam angle (around 120 degrees) spreads light over a larger area and is better for general illumination. A combination of both, with wide-angle fixtures for general light and narrow-angle fixtures for specific work stations, often works best. ### Step 4: Plan Your Layout Using your floor plan sketch, lay out the new fixture positions. Start with the general illumination fixtures, placed to provide even light across the room. Then add task lighting at specific work stations. For farrowing rooms, mount general fixtures in two rows, one over each walkway, rather than a single row down the center. This reduces shadows and provides light from two angles. Position each fixture so that the edge of its light pool overlaps with the adjacent fixture by about 20 percent. This overlap ensures uniformity. For task lighting, position fixtures directly over the work station but slightly to the side of where the worker stands. This prevents the worker's body from casting a shadow on the task. A fixture mounted 2 to 3 feet to the left or right of the work position, angled toward the task, works well. ### Step 5: Install with Safety in Mind If you are hiring an electrician, make sure they are licensed and experienced with agricultural installations. If you are doing the work yourself, follow all local electrical codes and use fixtures and wiring rated for damp or wet locations. Key installation points: - Use corrosion-resistant junction boxes and conduit. - Seal all penetrations where wiring enters the fixture to prevent moisture intrusion. - Support fixtures securely so they do not swing or fall. - Use strain relief on all cable entries. - Verify that all connections are tight and properly insulated. - Ground all fixtures according to code. ### Step 6: Verify and Adjust After installation, measure the light levels again at the same points you measured before. Compare the readings to your target levels. If any area is below target, you may need to add a fixture, adjust the angle of an existing fixture, or clean the lenses. Walk through the room while performing a typical task, such as checking sows or processing piglets. Pay attention to shadows and glare. If you find yourself squinting or leaning into the light, adjust the fixture angle or add a diffuser. ### Step 7: Train Your Team Your workers need to understand the new lighting system. Show them where the switches are, how to use any dimming controls, and how to report a failing fixture. Explain why the lighting was upgraded and what light levels they should expect. Encourage them to speak up if they notice a fixture flickering or a dark spot developing. ## Common Lighting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them ### Mistake 1: Mounting Fixtures Directly Over the Sow Many farmers mount lights directly over the center of each crate, thinking this provides the best light. In practice, this creates two problems. First, the sow's body blocks the light from reaching the piglets at her side, creating deep shadows. Second, workers who lean over the crate cast their own shadow on the work area. The fix is to mount fixtures in the walkways, between crates, rather than directly over the sow. This provides light from both sides of the sow and reduces the shadow problem. ### Mistake 2: Using Fixtures That Cannot Handle Washdown A fixture rated IP44 or IP54 might survive light splashing, but it will fail quickly under a pressure washer. Water seeps into the housing, corrodes the electrical connections, and eventually causes a short. The fixture may continue to work for a while, but it will flicker, dim, and eventually die. Always choose fixtures rated IP67 or higher for areas that are washed down. The small extra cost is nothing compared to the labor of replacing fixtures every few months. ### Mistake 3: Ignoring Glare Bright light is not automatically good light. A fixture that shines directly into your eyes creates glare, which reduces your ability to see detail and causes eye strain. This is especially problematic with LED fixtures, which can be very bright in a small area. Use diffusers or lenses that spread the light and reduce peak brightness. Mount fixtures so that they are not in the direct line of sight when you are working. If you are standing and working at a table, the fixture should be above and behind you, not in front of your face. ### Mistake 4: Forgetting About the Ends of the Room The center of a room always gets the most attention, and the ends get neglected. This creates a situation where the middle of the walkway is well lit but the far end, where you might be working with a difficult sow, is dim. When planning your layout, pay special attention to the ends of the room. You may need an extra fixture at each end, or you may need to shift the spacing so that the end fixtures are closer to the wall than the interior spacing. ### Mistake 5: Not Cleaning Fixtures In a pig barn, dust, fly specks, and manure particles accumulate on fixture lenses quickly. A dirty lens can reduce light output by 30 to 50 percent. Many farmers think their fixtures are failing when they just need a cleaning. Clean fixtures at least monthly, more often in dusty conditions. Use a soft cloth and a mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners that will scratch the lens. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before restoring power. ### Mistake 6: Buying the Cheapest Fixtures The market is flooded with inexpensive LED fixtures from unknown manufacturers. Many of these have poor heat management, which causes the LEDs to degrade quickly. A fixture that is rated for 50,000 hours might fail in 5,000 hours because the driver overheats. Buy from reputable brands with a track record in agricultural lighting. Check the warranty and make sure the manufacturer will honor it. A slightly higher upfront cost is worth it for a fixture that lasts. ## Decision Thresholds for Lighting Upgrades ### When to Replace Rather Than Repair If your barn still has fluorescent fixtures, the decision to switch to LED is straightforward. The energy savings alone often pay for the upgrade within a few years. Add the improved light quality and the reduced maintenance, and the case is compelling. If your barn has LED fixtures that are failing, the decision depends on the age and condition of the fixtures. If the fixtures are more than 7 to 8 years old and multiple units are failing, replacement is usually more cost-effective than repairing individual units. The drivers and LEDs in older fixtures are often not worth repairing. If only one or two fixtures are failing and the rest are in good condition, you can replace just the failed units. Make sure you purchase fixtures with the same color temperature and beam angle so that the light looks consistent across the room. ### When to Add Task Lighting General illumination is not always enough. If you find yourself squinting during processing, or if you cannot clearly see the color of a piglet's skin, you need task lighting. Task lighting is also important for any task that involves needles. Administering injections in dim light increases the risk of hitting the wrong site, injecting into a blood vessel, or missing the target entirely. A bright, focused light over the processing cart is a safety investment. ### When to Call an Electrician Some lighting problems are beyond the scope of a farm employee. If you notice any of the following, call a licensed electrician: - Fixtures that flicker even after replacing the bulb or driver - Circuit breakers that trip repeatedly when lights are turned on - Warm or discolored fixtures that suggest overheating - Any sign of water intrusion into a fixture or junction box - A burning smell from a fixture or switch Do not attempt to work on live circuits. Turn off the power at the breaker panel before inspecting any fixture. ## Monitoring and Recordkeeping for Barn Lighting ### The Value of a Simple Log A lighting log does not need to be complicated. A spiral notebook or a spreadsheet with columns for date, room, fixture number, and action taken is sufficient. The goal is to track failures, cleaning, and light level measurements so you can spot trends. When a fixture fails, record the date, the fixture location, and the failure mode (flickering, dead, dim). This helps you identify patterns. If fixtures in one area fail repeatedly, there may be a wiring problem, a moisture problem, or a fixture quality problem that needs attention. ### Monthly Checks Once a month, walk through each farrowing and nursery room and do a visual check of every fixture. Look for: - Flickering or intermittent operation - Yellowing of the lens - Water or condensation inside the fixture - Loose or damaged mounting hardware - Signs of pest damage to wiring Clean all lenses during this monthly check. A clean fixture can make a dramatic difference in light output. ### Quarterly Light Level Measurements Every three months, take lux readings at the same points you measured during your initial assessment. Use the same meter and measure at the same time of day. Compare the readings to your baseline and to your target levels. If readings have dropped by more than 20 percent from baseline, investigate the cause. It may be dirty lenses, a failing driver, or LEDs that are reaching the end of their life. Address the cause before the light level drops below the minimum for safe work. ### Annual Review Once a year, review your entire lighting system. Walk through each room and ask yourself whether the lighting still meets the needs of the tasks being performed. Has the use of the room changed? Are you doing more processing in a particular area? Have you added equipment that blocks light? This annual review is also a good time to check for new lighting technology that might improve your system. LED technology continues to advance, and fixtures that were expensive a few years ago may now be affordable. ## When to Call a Veterinarian or Extension Agent Lighting is primarily a worker safety issue, but it can also affect animal health and behavior. If you notice any of the following, consider consulting your veterinarian or a swine extension specialist: - **Changes in sow behavior:** If sows seem more restless or aggressive than usual, lighting may be a factor. Sows have different light sensitivity than humans, and sudden changes in light patterns can cause stress. - **Reduced feed intake or weight gain in nursery pigs:** While lighting is not typically the primary cause of poor performance, extremely dim or extremely bright conditions can affect pig behavior and feeding patterns. - **Increased stillbirth rates:** Poor lighting that prevents workers from recognizing the early signs of farrowing can lead to delayed intervention and more stillbirths. If you suspect this is happening, review your lighting and your farrowing monitoring protocols. - **Worker complaints:** If multiple workers complain of eye strain, headaches, or difficulty seeing, take these complaints seriously. They are a signal that your lighting is inadequate, regardless of what your lux meter says. Your veterinarian can help you rule out health issues that might be causing behavioral changes. A swine extension specialist can help you evaluate your lighting layout and recommend improvements based on current research and industry best practices. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is it better to use natural light through windows or skylights in a farrowing barn? Natural light is free and pleasant, but it is not reliable for task work. Cloud cover, time of day, and season all change the amount of light that enters a building. A barn that has good natural light during a sunny afternoon may be dangerously dim on a cloudy morning. Use natural light as a supplement, not as your primary source. Keep windows and skylights clean and consider adding light tubes or reflective surfaces to distribute daylight more evenly. Always maintain electric lighting that can provide the required light levels regardless of weather or time of day. ### What is the difference between lux and lumens, and why does it matter for my barn? Lumens measure the total amount of light emitted by a fixture. Lux measures the amount of light that actually reaches a surface, taking into account the distance from the fixture, the beam angle, and any obstructions. A fixture that emits 10,000 lumens might deliver only 100 lux to the floor if it is mounted 15 feet up and spread over a large area. When you are choosing fixtures, pay attention to both numbers. The lumens tell you how much light the fixture produces. The lux reading at the work surface tells you whether that light is actually useful for the task. ### How often should I clean my light fixtures? Clean fixtures at least once a month in farrowing and nursery rooms. If your barn is dusty or if you have a fly problem, clean every two weeks. Use a soft cloth and a mild detergent solution. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh chemicals that can scratch or cloud the lens. After cleaning, rinse with clean water and dry the fixture before restoring power. A clean lens can improve light output by 30 percent or more. ### Can I use regular household LED bulbs in my barn fixtures? No. Household LED bulbs are not designed for the moisture, dust, ammonia, and temperature swings of a pig barn. They will fail quickly, and they create a fire and shock hazard in a washdown environment. Use only fixtures and bulbs that are rated for damp or wet locations and that have an IP rating appropriate for your environment. The extra cost is justified by the longer service life and the safety of your workers. ### What color temperature is best for reducing eye strain? For most work tasks, 4000K to 5000K is the best range. This light appears neutral to slightly cool and provides good contrast without the harsh blue-white glare of higher Kelvin ratings. If workers spend long hours in the barn, avoid 6500K fixtures, which can cause eye strain and headaches in some people. Warm 2700K to 3000K light is more comfortable for break rooms and offices but is not ideal for detailed work tasks. ### Do I need emergency lighting in every room or just in the main walkways? Install emergency lighting in every room where workers are present, not just in main walkways. A worker who is at the back of a farrowing room when the power fails needs to see the exit path and the animals around them. Battery backup fixtures are relatively inexpensive, and they provide a critical safety net. Place them near exits, at work stations, and along the primary path that workers would take to leave the building. ### How do I know if my light levels are actually sufficient? Use a lux meter to measure the light at the work surface. Do not rely on your eyes, because the human eye adapts to low light and makes it seem brighter than it is. Take readings at the floor, at the work surface, and at eye level. Compare your readings to the target levels in this guide. If you are below target, you need more light, either from additional fixtures, higher-output fixtures, or cleaner lenses. ### Will brighter lighting stress my sows or pigs? Pigs are less sensitive to light than humans, and they do not have the same need for bright light to see clearly. However, sudden changes in light levels can startle them. When you upgrade your lighting, make the change gradually if possible. Turn on the new fixtures for short periods before leaving them on full time. This lets the animals adjust. In general, consistent lighting at the levels recommended in this guide does not cause stress in pigs. ## Related Farming Guides This section will be populated with links to related farming guides on pig barn design, worker safety in livestock facilities, and swine herd health management. ## Related Clinical & Scientific Guides * [Pig Enrichment Programs and Behavior Monitoring](/knowledge/animal-farming/swine/pig-enrichment-programs-and-behavior-monitoring) * [Swine Handling Facility Design for Safe Pig Movement](/knowledge/animal-farming/swine/swine-handling-facility-design-safe-pig-movement) * [Swine Feeding Management for Grow-Finish Pigs](/knowledge/animal-farming/swine/swine-feeding-management-for-grow-finish-pigs) ## References - National Pork Board: https://www.pork.org/ - USDA APHIS Swine Health: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/swine - FAO Pig Production: https://www.fao.org/pig-production-and-products/en/ - FAO Animal Production and Health: https://www.fao.org/animal-production/en/ - WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health): https://www.woah.org/en/home/ > This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis, treatment, public-health guidance, or regulatory reporting.