Pig intelligence and problem-solving ability have implications for the complexity of environments needed to prevent boredom and frustration in farm settings.
The cognitive sophistication of pigs means that barren environments cause boredom and frustration that is genuinely experienced as negative. Their ability to form cause-effect relationships and solve problems means they can experience the frustration of being unable to find solutions in featureless environments. Environments that provide challenges, novelty and manipulable objects engage their cognitive abilities positively. The welfare standard for pigs must be calibrated to their cognitive complexity - simple physical provision is insufficient for animals with these mental capacities.