Pig housing design determines what behaviours are possible and shapes welfare outcomes over an entire production cycle. Evidence-based design principles guide best practice.
Housing design is the primary determinant of pig welfare for the vast majority of a pig's life. Poor design creates conditions where good welfare is impossible regardless of stockworker skill. The evidence base for housing effects on welfare is strong and growing. Producers transitioning to welfare-positive design find that benefits including reduced mortality, lower antibiotic use, and improved growth rates often partially or fully offset capital costs.