Pig enrichment is legally required in the EU and increasingly elsewhere, but research shows significant variation in the effectiveness of different materials and designs.
While pig enrichment legislation is an important advance, compliance without effectiveness falls short of genuine welfare improvement. Providing a hanging chain satisfies legal requirements but fails to meet pigs strong motivation to root and chew on yielding organic materials. Research consistently shows that only substrates pigs can manipulate, consume, or root through adequately satisfy behavioral needs. Moving from token enrichment compliance to enrichment that genuinely improves welfare requires better standards, farmer education, and practical implementation support.