Outdoor pig production systems provide significant welfare benefits over intensive indoor systems but require good management to address challenges including weather exposure and predation.
Outdoor pig production represents a genuine welfare improvement over intensive indoor systems for most welfare measures. Pigs can root, wallow, engage in natural foraging behaviour, and express social behaviour in richer environments. However, outdoor systems are not automatically high welfare; they require active management of shelter, wallowing areas, and rotational grazing to prevent welfare problems. Extremes of weather cause welfare problems if shelter is inadequate; excessive wet conditions damage hoof health; and predation risk from foxes affecting piglets requires protection. Well-managed outdoor systems achieve substantially better welfare outcomes than intensive indoor housing.