Pigs are among the most cognitively sophisticated farm animals, capable of complex problem-solving, social awareness, and emotional responses. Their intelligence makes their typical housing conditions particularly problematic.
Pig cognition research reveals animals capable of rich emotional experience — anticipating rewards, experiencing frustration, forming friendships, and responding to social injustice. Bare concrete environments with no manipulable materials cause chronic frustration expressed through tail biting, aggression, and stereotypies. Straw-based systems, rooting substrates, and social housing dramatically improve pig welfare outcomes. The evidence base is strong and growing.