Concrete slatted floors in intensive pig housing cause foot and leg injuries, contribute to lameness, and prevent natural rooting behaviour.
The slatted concrete floor, chosen for ease of waste removal, imposes significant welfare costs on housed pigs. Foot and leg injuries are common, ranging from claw horn lesions to septic arthritis. Lameness causes chronic pain that affects virtually all aspects of a pig's welfare. Provision of bedding material — straw, wood shavings, or even rubber matting — substantially reduces these problems. The evidence base for bedded systems is strong, yet economic pressure and building infrastructure costs slow their adoption across the industry.