Farm Animals

Pig Housing Design for Enrichment

Pen layout and fixture placement significantly affect enrichment use, social behaviour and welfare in commercial pig housing.

Key Facts

Enrichment items placed at feeding areas receive lowest use due to competition
Multiple small enrichment points distributed around pens promote more even use
Pen shape affects social dynamics - long narrow pens increase aggression
Lying area design affects rest quality and social spacing
Feeder design and number-to-pig ratio affects feeding behaviour and aggression

Welfare Considerations

Housing design choices made at construction determine welfare outcomes for the life of the building. Evidence-based design principles for pig housing - incorporating enrichment placement, pen shape and feeder ratios - should be standard practice. Retrofitting existing buildings with improved fixtures is often possible and cost-effective.

What You Can Do

Support farm welfare standards incorporating evidence-based housing design
Advocate for welfare-by-design principles in new pig building planning
Encourage farmers to audit and improve existing pen layouts