EU law requires pig enrichment but evidence on which materials best meet behavioural needs is growing. Understanding what works guides better farm practice.
Not all enrichment is equal. Static objects quickly lose novelty value. Straw and other fibrous materials that pigs can root, chew, manipulate, and nest in provide the richest behavioural opportunities. Farms providing deep straw bedding typically show dramatically lower levels of tail biting, aggression, and lameness. Regulatory compliance with minimal provision misses the welfare value of genuinely satisfying enrichment.