Pigs are among the most cognitively sophisticated domesticated animals. Understanding their intelligence makes the welfare conditions of intensive pig farming ethically urgent.
The cognitive sophistication of pigs makes the conditions of intensive farming particularly ethically challenging. Pigs in barren environments with nothing to explore or root in develop boredom and frustration that can manifest as aggression and tail biting — which is why tails are routinely docked without pain relief. Slatted floors prevent rooting — a highly motivated behaviour that pigs will perform for hours given access to substrate. Social isolation increases stress. Research shows pigs in positive emotional states show optimistic cognitive biases analogous to human wellbeing indicators. The gap between pig cognitive capacity and typical commercial conditions represents one of the largest unaddressed welfare challenges in animal agriculture.