Pig Flooring Welfare Science: From Slats to Deep Litter

Key Facts

• Fully slatted concrete floors cause 3-7x more foot lesions than deep litter or solid concrete systems
• Partially slatted systems with solid lying areas provide a compromise between hygiene and comfort
• Rubber flooring significantly reduces lameness, hoof lesions, and injuries from slipping
• Deep litter systems provide rooting substrate but require careful management to prevent ammonia buildup
• Piglets reared on slatted floors show higher rates of joint infections and osteochondrosis

Welfare Considerations

Flooring welfare impacts extend beyond physical comfort to behavioral expression and social dynamics. Pigs on slatted concrete cannot perform natural rooting behaviors, which causes behavioral frustration and redirected behaviors like tail biting. Smooth or worn slats cause slipping and falls, leading to injuries and fear of movement. Rubber matting over slats dramatically reduces these harms at modest cost. Deep litter systems with straw represent the highest welfare floor type, enabling rooting, play, and thermoregulation.

What You Can Do

• Support pork products from higher-welfare systems with straw or deep-litter floors
• Advocate for rubber mat requirements in commercial pig housing legislation
• If managing pigs, invest in rubber flooring for farrowing and nursery areas as a minimum
• Monitor pigs for limping, reluctance to stand, or floor-avoiding behavior as welfare indicators
• Research the link between flooring and tail-biting when designing or upgrading housing