Pig pen design directly influences welfare outcomes by determining space allowance, resource access, flooring quality, and opportunities for species-typical behavior.
Pen design is a fundamental determinant of pig welfare that is often constrained by existing facility infrastructure and economic considerations. Fully slatted concrete floors, while easy to clean, cause hoof problems through abrasion and discomfort when pigs lie on them for extended periods. Providing a solid lying area with straw or other substrate dramatically improves comfort and enables rooting. Space allowances above the legal minimum are associated with lower aggression and injury rates. Design choices made during facility construction have decades-long welfare consequences — investing in higher-welfare design standards at construction is far more cost-effective than retrofitting existing facilities.