Pigs have a strong motivation to forage and explore for food that cannot be satisfied by presentation of a complete diet in a trough. Feeding system design that incorporates foraging opportunities significantly improves welfare.
Feeding system design has profound implications for pig welfare beyond simple nutrition. The reduction of foraging time from hours to minutes creates a sustained motivation deficit that cannot be addressed by any level of nutritional quality. Extending feeding time through fibre, scatter feeding, or food-based enrichment addresses both a fundamental motivation and the downstream welfare problems that frustrated motivation drives. The connection between impoverished feeding systems and tail biting provides a concrete example of how feeding behaviour affects pig welfare outcomes.