Pigs are highly motivated to root, explore, and play. Providing enrichment materials is one of the most cost-effective welfare improvements available to pig farmers, yet compliance remains low.
Pig enrichment is one of the clearest examples where a low-cost welfare intervention can dramatically reduce suffering. Tail biting — a major welfare problem in barren housed pig systems causing painful injuries and secondary infections — is almost entirely preventable through adequate enrichment. The industry response has historically been to dock tails (removing the target) rather than address the underlying cause (boredom and frustration). Straw provision, which addresses both enrichment and thermal needs, is technically compatible with slatted floor housing systems despite industry claims to the contrary. The gap between what enrichment science recommends and what is provided in commercial systems reflects an industry culture that prioritizes cost-cutting over animal welfare outcomes.