Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Environmental Enrichment Standards

International standards for pig environmental enrichment and evidence on effectiveness for welfare improvement.

Key Facts

EU legislation requires all pigs to have access to manipulable enrichment materials
Straw and other natural materials are most effective enrichment for pigs
Many European farms provide minimal compliance enrichment like hanging chains
UK pigs in intensive systems often receive less enrichment than welfare evidence recommends
Enrichment audits during welfare assurance inspections vary considerably in stringency

Welfare Considerations

Enrichment requirements that allow genuinely effective materials like straw deliver substantially better welfare than compliance with minimum legal standards using inadequate alternatives.

What You Can Do

Support stronger enrichment standards in pig welfare legislation
Choose pork from farms audited for effective rather than minimal enrichment
Advocate for straw as a minimum enrichment standard in pig welfare rules