Pigs are among the most cognitively complex farm animals, with demonstrated problem-solving, emotional states and social cognition that have profound welfare implications.
The cognitive complexity of pigs makes conventional intensive farming conditions particularly welfare-damaging. A highly intelligent, curious, social animal confined in a barren space with limited ability to express its natural behavioural repertoire experiences a form of suffering that goes beyond simple physical discomfort. Cognitive bias studies show that pigs in poor welfare conditions literally perceive the world more pessimistically - a profound illustration of how housing conditions affect inner animal experience. This evidence should fundamentally reshape how we think about minimum welfare standards.