Nose ringing of pigs - inserting rings through the snout to prevent rooting - is a painful and welfare-compromising practice that restricts one of the most fundamental pig behaviours.
Nose ringing fundamentally conflicts with pig welfare by making a core natural behaviour painful. Pigs' motivation to root is strong and intrinsic - ringing does not eliminate the drive but makes its expression aversive. The welfare cost of ringing must be weighed against the environmental benefit of reduced sward damage. Rotational grazing systems and sacrifice areas can manage sward damage without restricting this core behaviour.