Providing appropriate rooting materials to pigs reduces aggression and stereotypic behaviour, but the type and management of substrate matters as much as its presence.
The type of rooting material provided to pigs matters enormously for welfare outcomes. Pigs given access to whole straw engage in natural rooting and foraging behaviour for hours daily, showing reduced aggression, fewer stress indicators and lower rates of tail biting. Low-quality enrichment such as hanging chains or wooden posts may technically satisfy regulatory requirements while failing to provide meaningful behavioural satisfaction. The move toward genuinely good pig welfare requires moving beyond compliance to provision of materials that satisfy rooting motivation rather than merely appearing to address it.