Providing manipulable enrichment materials for pigs is both a legal requirement and an important welfare intervention, satisfying natural rooting and foraging drives in commercial systems.
Rooting is one of the most fundamental behavioural drives in pigs, and its frustration in barren indoor systems causes chronic stress and redirected behaviour including tail biting and aggression. Effective enrichment provides materials that pigs can root through, chew, and investigate - materials that change as they are used, maintaining novelty and engagement. The hierarchy of enrichment materials is clear from research: organic, substrate-based materials such as straw and compost are far more engaging than permanent fixtures. Despite the regulatory requirement for enrichment in the UK, enforcement and compliance monitoring remain variable.