Providing appropriate rooting substrates for pigs meets a fundamental behavioral need. Different substrates vary in effectiveness, practicality, and welfare value.
Rooting substrate welfare is not a minor luxury for pigs - it is a fundamental behavioral need with strong motivational drive. The difference between barren concrete and straw bedding in behavioral welfare terms is enormous. Pigs given straw show dramatically more rooting, nest-building, and exploratory behavior, and dramatically less boredom-driven redirected aggression. Substrate is one of the most impactful single welfare interventions available.