Pigs are intelligent, curious animals with strong instincts for rooting, foraging, and social play. Enrichment provision, particularly straw, is one of the most effective and evidence-based welfare interventions in pig farming.
Pigs without access to rooting and foraging materials exhibit frustration behaviours including aggression, tail biting, and stereotypies such as bar-biting. These behaviours cause direct harm to themselves and pen-mates. Pigs also experience greater anxiety and stress in barren environments. While providing straw in slatted systems is logistically challenging, alternatives including hanging chains, wood, and rooting substrate have been developed and validated.