Outdoor pig production systems provide welfare benefits through rooting, dustbathing, thermal regulation and natural behaviour expression that are impossible in indoor intensive systems.
Pigs with outdoor access spend significant time in exploratory and foraging behaviour that indoor systems cannot replicate. Rooting in soil for natural food items engages cognitive and sensory capabilities that contribute to positive welfare states. Outdoor pigs show lower rates of anxiety-related behaviour and demonstrate the positive welfare indicators (play, social exploration) associated with good mental states.