Scientific research into pig enrichment has identified the materials, designs, and management approaches that best meet pigs' behavioral needs. Translating this research into commercial practice remains a key challenge.
The science of pig enrichment is well-advanced - we know what materials pigs prefer, how often enrichment should be rotated, and what quantity provides adequate welfare benefit. The gap between this knowledge and commercial practice reflects implementation barriers that research alone cannot overcome. Regulatory specificity - requiring not just enrichment provision but organic, manipulable materials in adequate quantity - combined with welfare auditing that assesses actual enrichment use rather than just provision, would close this gap. Farms that provide genuinely good enrichment demonstrate that implementation is achievable; the question is making it universal rather than exceptional.