Research on pig enrichment has produced clear evidence for what types of enrichment best address pig behavioral needs. Applying this evidence transforms pig welfare in farming systems.
The enrichment evidence for pigs is unusually clear and actionable: organic rooting materials reduce tail biting, reduce aggression, and improve behavioral welfare indicators significantly and consistently across studies. The welfare gap between what evidence supports and what most commercial farms provide is stark - the industry has responded to EU enrichment mandates by providing ineffective hanging chains and hard plastic objects rather than the organic materials that actually work. Welfare advocates, certification programs, and regulators who engage with the actual evidence literature rather than minimum compliance definitions can make meaningful welfare improvements by requiring effective enrichment rather than nominal enrichment.