A range of alternative housing systems for pigs offer welfare improvements over conventional intensive production, with evidence on outcomes guiding selection of the most effective approaches.
No housing system is perfect, but the evidence is clear that systems providing bedding, more space, and enrichment produce better welfare outcomes than bare concrete systems at conventional stocking densities. Deep litter and hoop barn systems enable natural rooting behaviour that prevents the frustration-aggression cycle underlying tail biting. Outdoor systems enable the full range of natural pig behaviour when well-managed. The welfare gap between best and worst available systems is large, and consumer choice and certification can drive movement toward better systems at commercially significant scale.