Decades of pig welfare research have identified specific environmental features that matter most to pig wellbeing. Translating this science into practice remains one of the biggest gaps in commercial pig farming.
Pig welfare science provides one of the strongest evidence bases for enrichment requirements in any farmed species. The research consensus is clear: pigs need substrates for rooting and foraging, objects that provide novelty and manipulation opportunities, adequate space to perform natural locomotor behaviour, and stable social groups. The disconnect between this evidence and commercial practice — where bare concrete, tail docking, and barren environments remain the global norm — represents a systemic failure to translate science into regulation and market standards. Advocacy that bridges this gap, connecting welfare scientists with regulators, retailers, and consumers, represents some of the highest-leverage work in farmed animal welfare.