Environmental enrichment that satisfies pigs' rooting, foraging, and exploration needs significantly improves welfare and reduces problematic behaviors like tail biting.
Enrichment provision for pigs is not a luxury addition but a biological necessity. Pigs' rooting drive is so strong they will root on bare concrete for hours without reward. Tail biting, which causes severe injuries in victims, is almost entirely eliminated by adequate rooting substrate - demonstrating that this welfare problem is industry-created and industry-solvable. The evidence that enrichment reduces both suffering and problematic behavior without sacrificing productivity makes the case for mandatory enrichment requirements overwhelming.