Pigs have a strong behavioural need to root and manipulate objects. Understanding the science of effective enrichment helps farmers provide truly meaningful stimulation.
Pigs on barren substrates experience significant frustration and redirect exploratory behaviour onto pen mates, causing tail biting outbreaks that injure multiple animals. The science is clear: enrichment must be edible, destructible, investigable and ideally substrate-like. Loose straw provided in sufficient quantity is the gold standard. Chains and rubber rings score poorly on all metrics. Farmers who invest in good enrichment see measurable welfare benefits and often improved growth rates from reduced stress and injury.