Group housing systems for pigs are better than individual confinement but require careful management for welfare.
Group housing for pigs is a significant welfare improvement over gestation crates and individual confinement, but it introduces new welfare challenges. Mixing unfamiliar pigs at any life stage provokes intense fighting — pigs establish social hierarchies through conflict that can cause serious injuries. Rooting substrate — straw, compost, or soil — reduces aggression by providing an outlet for behavioral drives. Outdoor systems with mud access allow natural thermoregulation and enrichment. Managing group welfare requires both appropriate housing design and careful animal management.