Outdoor pig production systems offer significant welfare benefits through natural behavior expression but require careful management of environmental and health challenges.
Outdoor production represents one of the most significant welfare improvements achievable for pigs - allowing expression of their natural behavioral repertoire including rooting, wallowing, and social foraging. The welfare benefits are robust and well-documented. Environmental management challenges are real but manageable. Outdoor pigs typically exhibit fewer stereotypies, less aggression, and better psychological welfare than their indoor counterparts.