Outdoor farrowing systems for pigs offer welfare benefits over indoor confinement but present their own challenges related to weather, predation, and management.
The welfare comparison between outdoor and indoor farrowing is nuanced. Outdoor systems allow sows to express fundamental behaviors - foraging, rooting, nest building, and social interaction - that are severely restricted in indoor systems. Sows in outdoor systems show lower stress hormone levels and fewer stereotypic behaviors. However, outdoor systems also expose animals to weather extremes, predation risk, and management challenges. The key welfare drivers are behavioral freedom, good management, appropriate shelter, and skilled stockmanship regardless of system type.