Providing pigs with straw and rooting materials is one of the most evidence-based and cost-effective ways to improve welfare on commercial farms.
Rooting and foraging are core behavioral needs for pigs, deeply embedded in their biology and psychology. When these needs go unmet — as in barren concrete pen systems — pigs redirect their rooting behavior toward pen mates, causing injuries that often prompt tail docking. Straw and rooting materials address these needs directly, reducing aggression, enriching the environment, and improving overall herd health. Providing adequate rooting material is inexpensive relative to its welfare benefits, and producers who have made the switch report improved pig performance as well as fewer behavioral problems.