Providing pigs with enrichment materials is a legal requirement in the EU and increasingly worldwide. Understanding which materials are most effective helps farmers maximize welfare benefit from their enrichment programs.
Enrichment provision for pigs is one of the most evidence-rich areas of farm animal welfare. Decades of research have identified which materials most effectively satisfy pig behavioral motivation, how much reduction in harmful behaviors results from enrichment provision, and how enrichment should be managed to maintain its effectiveness. The evidence is unambiguous: pigs with access to appropriate, rotated enrichment are healthier, less aggressive, and show fewer welfare-compromising behaviors. The challenge is implementation at scale and enforcement of existing legal requirements. Many pigs legally entitled to enrichment receive minimal provision that satisfies the letter but not the spirit of the requirement.