Enrichment provision for pigs engages their natural exploratory drives, reduces aggression and produces measurable positive welfare states. The evidence base is strong.
Pig enrichment science has advanced from theoretical argument to robust empirical evidence. Studies consistently show that pigs provided with high-quality, varied enrichment show lower stress hormones, less aggression, fewer stereotypies and more positive behavioural indicators than pigs in barren environments. The EU requirement for enrichment material is a positive regulatory development but its impact is limited by weak enforcement and the acceptance of minimal interventions like hanging chains that fail to engage pigs meaningfully. Welfare improvement requires enrichment that is genuinely engaging — varied, manipulable, renewed regularly to maintain novelty and sufficient in quantity for all pigs to access simultaneously without competition.