Flooring quality is a fundamental determinant of pig welfare, with concrete slatted floors causing significant leg injuries, discomfort, and lameness in intensive systems.
Hard concrete slatted flooring causes chronic discomfort and injury in pigs. Sole erosion, abrasions, and claw horn disorders cause pain with every step and contribute to lameness that affects movement, feeding behaviour, and social interactions. The welfare case for improving flooring quality is well-established, with rubber mats, deep litter, and textured concrete all demonstrating measurable welfare benefits. Economic analysis consistently shows that welfare improvements from better flooring generate production benefits through reduced mortality, improved growth, and reduced veterinary costs. The persistence of bare concrete slats in much of European pig production represents a failure to implement available welfare improvements.