Pig welfare improvement is achievable through a combination of breed reform, housing innovation, regulatory enforcement, and consumer demand — and the evidence base for what works is strong.
Pig welfare improvement is not waiting for breakthroughs — the knowledge, technology, and alternatives exist now. Polled genetics eliminate dehorning; free-farrowing systems eliminate farrowing crate suffering; enrichment provision eliminates tail biting; immunocastration eliminates castration pain. What is missing is political will, consumer demand, and regulatory enforcement at sufficient scale. Progress has been made through corporate commitments, consumer campaigns, and legislation in some countries — but the pace of change is far too slow relative to the scale of suffering. The future of pig welfare depends on accelerating what we already know works.