Outdoor pig production offers significant welfare benefits but also presents challenges including predation, extreme weather, and biosecurity that must be carefully managed.
Outdoor pig production represents a genuine improvement in welfare potential over intensive indoor systems, particularly for breeding sows previously confined in farrowing crates. However, outdoor systems are not uniformly welfare-positive: poorly managed outdoor units can expose pigs to thermal stress, predation, and inadequate shelter. The welfare benefit of outdoor production depends critically on management quality, stocking density, and provision of species-appropriate resources. Consumer support for outdoor-reared pork creates market incentives that drive welfare investment, but certification requirements must be robust enough to ensure minimum standards.