Wild boar are increasingly farmed for meat in parts of Europe. Their semi-wild temperament, intelligence, and behavioural needs create distinctive welfare challenges in farming systems designed for domestic pigs.
Wild boar farming occupies a welfare frontier: these animals retain strong wild behavioural drives and stress responses that make them ill-suited to conventional pig farming systems. The same intelligence and sensitivity that makes pigs impressive cognitively is amplified in wild boar, making barren environments and rough handling particularly harmful. Systems that provide extensive outdoor access, rooting and wallowing opportunities, and minimal human disturbance can achieve reasonable welfare outcomes. However, the economics of boar farming may drive intensification that is incompatible with their needs. Slaughter welfare is particularly critical — wild boar in conventional slaughterhouse environments show severe stress responses, requiring on-farm slaughter or careful pre-slaughter management to protect welfare at this final stage.