Scientific research into pig enrichment has moved beyond simply providing objects to understanding what types of stimulation genuinely meet pig motivational needs and improve welfare outcomes.
The scientific literature consistently shows that not all enrichment is created equal for pigs. Hard, non-destructible objects attached to pen walls provide brief novelty but fail to sustain engagement with foraging and rooting motivation. Straw and other substrate materials that pigs can root through, manipulate, and partially consume consistently outperform hanging objects across behavioural, physiological, and affective measures. Industrial systems often resist substrate enrichment due to slurry management constraints, yet these constraints are engineering problems, not biological inevitabilities. Farms that have adopted deep-litter systems or daily straw provision report not only improved welfare but often reduced veterinary costs through lower tail-biting incidents. The science is clear; what remains is the translation of evidence into widespread practice.