Scientific research demonstrates that pigs are highly intelligent animals, raising significant ethical questions about standard farming practices.
The cognitive complexity of pigs carries direct welfare implications. An animal capable of complex problem-solving, social learning, long-term memory, and emotional contagion experiences the frustration of barren, unstimulating environments in ways that a cognitively simpler animal might not. Standard commercial housing systems that deny pigs opportunities for exploration, problem-solving, social interaction, and natural behaviour expression fail to meet the welfare needs of cognitively sophisticated animals. This scientific understanding should inform both individual consumer choices and broader policy standards for pig housing and enrichment requirements.