Pigs are highly intelligent, curious animals with a strong innate drive to root, explore, and play. Depriving them of outlets for these behaviours in barren intensive systems causes chronic frustration, stereotypic behaviour, and welfare deficits that are now well-documented by behavioural science.
Pigs in barren slatted systems develop stereotypic behaviours including bar-biting, belly-nosing, and sham-chewing — clear signs of chronic frustration. These behaviours appear when rooting, exploration, and social play needs are not met. Research by Professor Anna Valros and others shows that tail biting, aggression, and stereotypies all decrease significantly when deep rooting substrate like straw is available. The economic barrier of straw provision in fully slatted systems is real but addressable through design changes. Play behaviour in pigs serves a welfare indicator function: systems that permit play show healthier, less aggressive groups.