Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are farmed in parts of Europe for specialty meat, but their strongly motivated natural behaviours create significant welfare challenges in captive farming systems.
Wild boar occupy an unusual position in the farmed animal welfare landscape: they are partially domesticated at best, retaining strong fear responses to humans and highly motivated natural behaviours that farming systems typically cannot accommodate. Rooting, wallowing, and wide-range foraging are central to wild boar behavioural needs. Confinement without these opportunities causes chronic stress indicators including adrenal hyperactivity and stereotypic behaviour. The fact that these animals have not been selectively bred for tolerance of captive conditions means welfare compromises that might be manageable in domestic pigs are more severe in wild boar. High-quality outdoor extensive systems with woodland access, wallowing facilities, and minimal human disturbance represent the most welfare-appropriate approach to this species.