Outdoor pig production provides significantly better welfare than intensive indoor systems in many respects, but also involves environmental trade-offs and welfare challenges from weather exposure that require careful management.
Outdoor pig production systems provide substantively better welfare than indoor intensive systems for the behaviours that matter most to pigs — rooting, foraging, social interaction, and nest building. However, outdoor systems are not welfare-perfect: extreme heat causes acute suffering if shade and wallowing access are insufficient; cold and wet conditions in poorly managed winter paddocks cause discomfort; and higher parasite burdens require careful management. The welfare of outdoor pigs depends significantly on management quality and paddock rotation practices. Consumer messaging around outdoor pig welfare should acknowledge both the genuine welfare advantages and the management responsibilities required to realise them.