Outdoor pig production offers significant welfare advantages over indoor systems but introduces specific welfare challenges related to weather, pest exposure, and predation risk.
Outdoor pig production at its best delivers genuine welfare improvements over indoor systems: pigs can root in natural substrate, wallow to thermoregulate, explore varied environments, and express the full range of natural behaviours. At its worst, outdoor production can fail to provide adequate shelter in extreme weather, expose pigs to excessive parasitism, and leave piglets vulnerable to predation. The welfare balance depends entirely on management quality. Well-managed outdoor systems with appropriate shelter, parasite monitoring, and predator exclusion consistently demonstrate welfare advantages over indoor systems on measures of positive welfare, stress indicators, and behavioural repertoire. Outdoor certification requirements that include shelter standards and parasite management address the risks while capturing the benefits.