EU regulations set minimum space allowances for pigs at different life stages, but many experts argue these standards remain insufficient to meet pigs' behavioral and social needs.
Current EU space allowances represent political compromise between industry economics and animal welfare science. Research consistently shows that pigs prefer and benefit from more space than minimum legal requirements provide. At 0.65 m2 per pig, finishing pigs cannot simultaneously stand and lie comfortably without overlapping - a situation that increases stress and aggression. The link between stocking density and tail biting is well-established: overcrowding creates social tension that expresses itself in biting behavior, requiring painful tail docking as a management response. Higher space allowances that eliminate the need for docking would be better welfare and eliminate a routine painful procedure.