Pigs are highly social, intelligent animals whose welfare depends critically on appropriate group housing, stable social groups and space to express natural behaviors.
Pigs are among the most cognitively complex farm animals, yet are commonly housed in barren, overcrowded conditions that prevent most natural behaviors. Group instability from mixing unfamiliar pigs triggers severe aggression. Providing stable social groups, adequate space and environmental enrichment dramatically improves pig welfare and reduces the need for painful interventions like tail docking.