Group housing for pigs allows expression of natural social behaviour but requires careful management. Space allowance, enrichment and mixing protocols determine welfare outcomes.
Pig group housing represents genuine progress over individual confinement systems, but welfare quality depends critically on implementation. Minimum regulatory space allowances are frequently below thresholds where positive welfare is consistently achieved. Mixing unfamiliar pigs — common during regrouping after weaning or transport — triggers acute aggression that injures and sometimes kills animals. Stable groups maintained throughout the production cycle with adequate space and enrichment achieve measurably better welfare outcomes. Stockperson skill in monitoring group dynamics, identifying injured individuals and managing social disruption is as important as physical infrastructure in determining welfare quality.