Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Outdoor Access and Natural Behaviour

Outdoor access for pigs provides opportunities for rooting, wallowing, and exploration that significantly enhance welfare compared to indoor systems.

Key Facts

Outdoor pigs spend up to 4 hours daily engaged in rooting behaviour
Wallowing in mud provides thermoregulation and UV protection unavailable indoors
Outdoor pigs show higher behavioural diversity and lower stereotypy rates
Stocking density and paddock management determine welfare outcomes in outdoor systems
Rotation prevents environmental degradation that causes welfare problems in overstocked systems

Welfare Considerations

Outdoor access enables pigs to express fundamental natural behaviours including rooting, wallowing, and social foraging that indoor systems cannot replicate. Well-managed outdoor systems provide substantially enriched welfare experiences while managing the risks of uncontrolled environments.

What You Can Do

Choose outdoor-reared pork products certified to welfare standards
Support farms transitioning to outdoor or deep litter systems
Advocate for outdoor access or high-quality enrichment requirements in all pig welfare standards