Farm Animals

Pig Group Housing Welfare Research Advances

Research into group housing for pigs has advanced significantly, identifying design features that maximise welfare benefits while managing the challenges of group systems.

Key Facts

Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems with competitive zones allow individual feeding in groups
Pen shape, feeder number and enrichment placement all influence group housing welfare outcomes
Dynamic group housing with multiple pens and choice points shows excellent welfare indicators
Research-led design guidance is now available for producers transitioning from stalls
Swedish pig producers with 40 years of group housing experience demonstrate commercial viability

Welfare Considerations

Group housing research has matured to the point where evidence-based design guidance is available. Producers transitioning from stalls have access to practical research support for system design.

What You Can Do

Support farms transitioning to group housing using evidence-based design principles
Advocate for welfare standards in group housing systems that go beyond simply removing stalls
Ask producers about the specific design features of their group housing and ESF systems