Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare: Outdoor Pig Farming Systems

Outdoor pig farming provides substantially better welfare conditions than indoor intensive systems, with access to rooting, wallowing and natural behaviour but with distinct management challenges.

Key Facts

Outdoor-bred pigs in the UK spend their first weeks in arcs with their mothers on pasture
True outdoor systems include outdoor breeding sows and outdoor rearing through to slaughter
Outdoor pigs have significantly lower rates of tail biting than housed pigs
Welfare challenges include temperature extremes, predator pressure and ground management
Soil rooting behaviour - a core pig natural behaviour - is fully expressed in outdoor systems

Welfare Considerations

Outdoor pig systems represent some of the highest welfare standards achievable in commercial pig production. Sows farrow in natural arcs, piglets root and explore from an early age, and the full repertoire of natural pig behaviour can be expressed. Management challenges include winter welfare and environmental impact from rooting, but these are addressable through good rotation and pasture management.

What You Can Do

Choose outdoor-reared pork products to support this higher-welfare system
Look for the RSPCA Assured or Pasture for Life marks on pork products
Support campaigns for outdoor pork to be more widely available
Learn about the welfare differences between indoor and outdoor pig production systems