Flooring in pig production facilities has major welfare implications for hoof health, injury rates, and expression of natural behaviors.
Pig flooring welfare is one of the most evidence-supported areas of farm animal welfare improvement. The welfare costs of bare slatted concrete - hoof damage, leg problems, difficulty lying comfortably, inability to root - are well-documented and clearly linked to floor type. The solutions are known: rubber matting, straw systems, or improved slatted designs all reduce welfare costs substantially. The barrier is economic rather than technical - welfare-positive flooring costs more to install and maintain. Consumer and regulatory pressure translates welfare evidence into economic incentives for investment.