Outdoor pig systems allow expression of rooting and ranging behaviour but face welfare challenges from weather extremes, predation, parasites, and variable stockperson quality that determine whether the welfare promise is delivered.
Outdoor pig production delivers significant welfare advantages over conventional indoor systems when managed well, but the welfare outcomes are highly variable and depend critically on stockperson skill and dedication. The fundamental welfare advantages are real: outdoor sows can root in natural substrate, expressing a core behavioural drive that indoor systems suppress; they are not confined in gestation or farrowing crates; they can range freely within paddocks; and they have access to wallow sites for thermoregulation. These advantages translate into lower stereotypy rates, higher positive behaviour expression, and better psychological welfare indicators. However, outdoor systems expose pigs to welfare challenges that indoor systems minimise. Summer heat poses significant risk without adequate shade and wallow access; winter wet conditions cause welfare harm through cold stress and muddy conditions that impair movement and cause skin problems. Predation of piglets by foxes is a welfare and productivity concern. The welfare of outdoor pig systems is ultimately determined by the stockperson's ability to observe widely dispersed animals, respond to individual welfare needs, and manage the physical environment to maintain adequate conditions through seasonal extremes.