Pigs are highly social animals that thrive in stable groups. Understanding their social behaviour and managing housing to support it is central to modern pig welfare science.
Social management is one of the most impactful welfare levers in pig farming. The practice of mixing unfamiliar pigs at weaning, growing, and finishing stages creates repeated aggression bouts that cause physical injury and psychological stress. Systems that keep social groups intact from birth to slaughter — avoiding mixing events — dramatically reduce aggression and improve welfare outcomes. Enrichment materials like straw, root vegetables, and hanging objects redirect investigative behaviour from pen-mates to appropriate targets. The transition to group sow housing across Europe demonstrates that positive welfare changes are achievable at scale when regulatory frameworks are combined with farmer support and technical guidance.