Scientific research on space allowance for pigs demonstrates clear relationships between pen space and welfare outcomes, informing farm design and regulation.
The science is clear: legal minimum space allowances for pigs in many countries are insufficient to allow normal resting behavior for the whole group simultaneously. Pigs at minimum legal density cannot all lie down at once without crowding. This isn't a theoretical concern - overcrowded pigs show measurably higher stress hormones, more aggression, and more tail biting. Moving toward the 1.0 m2 per finishing pig recommended by welfare scientists would meaningfully reduce suffering for hundreds of millions of pigs annually.