Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Environmental Complexity

Environmental complexity - providing varied, interesting environments for pigs - reduces boredom, stereotypy, and aggression while promoting positive welfare states.

Key Facts

Pigs in complex environments show more exploratory behaviour and less aggression
Environmental complexity includes varied substrates, heights, textures, and social structures
Complexity reduces redirected behaviours including tail biting and flank biting
Moving enrichment items regularly maintains complexity and novelty over time
Complexity scores on farm correlate with other positive welfare indicators

Welfare Considerations

Environmental complexity is an emerging welfare concept that goes beyond minimum enrichment requirements. Farms investing in genuinely complex environments achieve superior welfare outcomes for their pigs.

What You Can Do

Support farms with verified environmental complexity in their pig housing
Advocate for complexity as a criterion in pig welfare certification
Learn about the science linking environmental complexity to pig welfare
Choose welfare-certified pork from farms providing complex environments