Enrichment for farmed pigs is supported by extensive scientific evidence and is increasingly required by welfare standards. Understanding pig behavior needs guides effective enrichment provision.
Enrichment science for pigs has advanced significantly: we now know that the type, quality, and presentation of enrichment matters enormously. A rubber hanging toy that a pig can mouth briefly provides far less welfare benefit than a rooting substrate that allows sustained species-typical behavior. The distinction matters because minimum compliance with enrichment regulations often involves cheap, low-quality provision that fails to meet behavioral needs. The welfare goal is not to provide "something" but to provide resources that genuinely satisfy pig behavioral motivations — reducing frustration, promoting exploration, and improving psychological wellbeing.