Research into the specific properties that make enrichment materials effective for pigs has identified key characteristics allowing farmers to provide better enrichment with available resources.
Understanding what makes enrichment materials effective has transformed pig welfare recommendations from vague requirements to specific material characteristics that farmers can act on. The science shows clearly that pigs need enrichment they can root through, chew, destroy, and ideally eat — not fixed objects that satisfy none of these criteria. Straw, hay, peat, and mushroom compost all meet these requirements at low cost. Regulatory requirements that specify material characteristics rather than simply requiring some form of enrichment would dramatically improve compliance quality and pig welfare outcomes.