Pigs are among the most cognitively complex domestic animals — arguably more intelligent than dogs. Their housing in barren confinement systems raises fundamental ethical questions.
The cognitive sophistication of pigs makes intensive confinement particularly ethically problematic. Animals capable of complex problem-solving, emotional contagion, and long-term memory experience barren environments as chronic deprivation rather than neutral background. Gestation crates prevent the most basic movements and are widely recognized as incompatible with acceptable welfare. Consumer knowledge about pig intelligence significantly increases willingness to pay for higher-welfare products.