Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Housing Design and Welfare Outcomes

Housing design choices have long-term welfare consequences for pigs and require integration of behavioural science into built environment planning.

Key Facts

Space allowances significantly affect aggression, injury and stress outcomes in group-housed pigs
Natural light access and photoperiod management affect reproductive and behavioural welfare
Outlet provisions including dunging areas, lying areas and feeding areas reduce competition
Flooring type and substrate availability affect hoof health and comfort simultaneously
Environmental complexity including levels and objects increases usable space and reduces conflict

Welfare Considerations

Housing design is one of the most enduring determinants of pig welfare, affecting all animals in a system throughout their lives. Integrating welfare science into housing design at the planning stage is far more effective than retrofitting improvement into poor systems.

What You Can Do

Support research partnerships between welfare scientists and housing designers
Advocate for welfare performance requirements in housing certification for pig systems
Choose pork from farms with modern welfare-conscious housing design