Enrichment for pigs is legally required in the EU but frequently inadequately provided. Understanding what materials work and why helps bridge the gap between regulation and genuine welfare.
The pig enrichment gap between regulation and practice is one of the most stark examples of welfare standards existing on paper without genuine behavioral benefit. A hanging metal chain in an otherwise barren concrete environment meets the letter of enrichment requirements while providing minimal behavioral benefit. Effective pig enrichment engages the root-and-forage behavioral system that pigs are motivated to express: organic materials including straw, compost, or wood shavings that can be manipulated, moved, and explored. Where farming systems make straw provision difficult, creative alternatives must be found — the welfare obligation doesn't disappear because the system is inconvenient.