Pigs are highly intelligent animals whose cognitive needs require enrichment beyond simple rooting materials to achieve positive mental welfare states.
Providing only physical enrichment like straw addresses some welfare needs but misses the cognitive dimension of pig welfare. Pigs need challenges - problems to solve, environments to explore, and social interactions to navigate. Positive welfare in pigs is not just the absence of suffering but the presence of positive emotional states including curiosity, playfulness, and satisfaction. Cognitive enrichment programs are increasingly recognized as essential components of high-welfare pig farming.