Evidence-based pig pen design incorporating adequate space, enrichment substrate, and structural complexity supports positive welfare states and reduces the behavioral problems common in conventional housing.
Pen design for pigs encapsulates the difference between minimum acceptable welfare and genuinely good welfare. Legal minimums address floor space but do not specify substrate, complexity, or enrichment that determine behavioral quality. Evidence-based pen design incorporates rooting substrate like deep straw, visual barriers for social navigation, foraging opportunities, and space sufficient for natural group dynamics. The investment in better pen design delivers measurable returns through reduced tail biting, better growth rates, and lower medication costs, creating an economic case that aligns with welfare improvement.