Research into pig enrichment has identified effective and practical interventions that reduce aggression, tail biting, and stereotypic behaviour in commercial production systems.
The science of pig enrichment has moved from theoretical to practical, identifying specific interventions that are measurably effective at reducing welfare problems in commercial settings. Straw consistently outperforms non-manipulable enrichment objects because it satisfies the fundamental rooting motivation that pigs express regardless of available substrate. Novelty matters: enrichment that pigs habituate to rapidly loses effectiveness, making rotation essential. The EU requirement for enrichment is a regulatory step forward, but the lack of specificity about effective materials means that token chain provision — which does not satisfy rooting motivation — can satisfy the legal requirement while providing minimal welfare benefit.