A growing scientific evidence base demonstrates that effective enrichment dramatically improves pig welfare outcomes, reducing vice behaviours and improving psychological wellbeing.
The evidence base for pig enrichment is mature and compelling. Research by SRUC, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, and Wageningen University demonstrates that pigs in enriched environments show lower cortisol levels, reduced aggression scores, higher rates of positive welfare indicators (play, social resting), and lower incidence of vice behaviours. High-quality enrichment must be: manipulable (can be rooted and chewed), destructible (can be broken down), odiferous (has smell), and new or changed frequently to maintain interest. Straw is consistently the most effective single enrichment, but combinations including ropes, hessian sacks, and varied foraging substrates provide additional benefit. Enrichment is not a luxury but a necessity for species with intense foraging motivation.