ANIMAL WELFARE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PIG FARMING: ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

Brazilian pig farming faces increasing demands related to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, which are fundamental to regulatory compliance and market competitiveness. From this perspective, this article aims to analyze the economic effects of adopting animal welfare practices in pig production. The research locus is an integrated farm located in the municipality of Prudentópolis, Paraná, Brazil. Methodologically, the study is characterized as a case study with a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative), combining direct observation with documentary analysis of three successive finishing batches, totaling 3,966 pigs. The analysis encompassed zootechnical indicators (average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate) and economic indicators (total cost per animal, cost per kilogram of live weight, ROI). The results indicate that animal welfare–oriented practices, such as thermal control, biosecurity, adequate housing conditions, and sanitary management, contributed to improved productive performance, reduced antibiotic use, and a progressive decrease in feed costs per animal. Overall, the findings demonstrate that environmental compliance combined with animal welfare represents an effective sustainability strategy in contemporary pig farming.