Pigs have a powerful biological drive to root and forage. Denying this drive in barren environments causes boredom, frustration, and redirected behaviours like tail-biting. Enrichment provision is one of the most well-evidenced and cost-effective welfare interventions in pig farming.
Pig enrichment science provides one of the strongest evidence bases in animal welfare research. The causal relationship between barren environments, redirected rooting behaviour, tail biting, and tail docking is well established. The solution is straightforward: provide sufficient rooting substrate. However, industrial systems have been reluctant to adopt straw widely due to cost, labour requirements, and slurry management challenges in existing facilities. Higher-welfare certified systems — RSPCA Assured, Soil Association — require enrichment provision and demonstrate that it is commercially viable. The welfare case for routine provision of substrate, manipulable objects, and environmental complexity for pigs is among the most thoroughly evidenced welfare interventions in all of animal agriculture.