Decades of research on pig enrichment has produced clear guidance on what works. Understanding the evidence helps advocates push for meaningful standards rather than token compliance.
The science of pig enrichment is clear: effective enrichment must satisfy the specific behavioral needs of pigs, primarily rooting and foraging. Materials like straw, wood shavings, compost, and mushroom substrate do this; chains do not. The disconnect between research knowledge and regulatory requirement persists because changing from barren slatted floors to straw-based systems requires infrastructure investment that producers resist. Consumer demand for genuinely enriched pork — backed by verified standards that require effective materials rather than token items — is the most direct pressure for change.