Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Environmental Complexity

Pigs housed in barren environments suffer from boredom, redirected behaviours and chronic stress. Providing environmental complexity is a primary welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Pigs spend up to 50% of waking time exploring their environment in natural conditions
Barren housing leads to tail biting, ear biting and flank nosing
Loose straw, rooting substrate and objects of different textures satisfy exploratory drive
Complexity reduces aggression at regrouping and during post-weaning adaptation
Rotating enrichment items maintains novelty and sustained engagement

Welfare Considerations

Environmental complexity is not a luxury but a biological necessity for pigs. Farms that invest in complex environments prevent multiple welfare problems simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support EU and UK legislation mandating enrichment for all housed pigs
Choose pork from farms meeting higher enrichment standards
Advocate for complexity as a core metric in welfare certification schemes