Pigs are highly intelligent animals with complex behavioural needs. Understanding which enrichment interventions actually work - and the science behind them - is essential for meaningful welfare improvement.
Enrichment science for pigs has advanced substantially, but the gap between research evidence and farm practice remains wide. Studies consistently show that rooting substrates - straw, compost, peat - provide far greater enrichment value than hanging objects, yet hanging chains remain the most common provision on UK farms because they are manageable in slatted floor systems. This is enrichment designed for farm convenience, not pig welfare. The Five Freedoms framework is being replaced by the Five Domains model that emphasises positive welfare states, not just absence of suffering. For pigs, this means active investigation, problem-solving and play, not just the absence of boredom.