Straw Bedding and Pig Welfare: Evidence Review

Straw bedding in pig housing is associated with multiple welfare improvements, from thermal comfort and injury prevention to behavioural enrichment.

Key Facts

Deep straw-bedded systems consistently show lower rates of tail-biting, aggression, lameness and stereotypic behaviour than slatted or bare concrete systems
Straw provides thermal insulation that improves thermoregulation welfare particularly for piglets and growers in cold conditions
Pigs spend up to 4 times more time performing exploratory and rooting behaviour in straw-bedded systems than in barren environments
The welfare benefits of straw must be balanced against practical challenges including slurry management and disease risk in some contexts

Welfare Considerations

Straw bedding addresses multiple welfare domains simultaneously: physical comfort (soft, insulating surface), behavioural needs (rooting substrate), injury prevention (cushioned falls, reduced foot and leg pathology) and psychological welfare (environmental complexity reducing boredom). The evidence consistently shows that straw-bedded pigs have better welfare outcomes across multiple indicators. The practical challenges of straw — cost, storage, slurry management — are real but manageable and represent production decisions that trade against welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Provide deep straw bedding to all pig production stages where practically feasible — the welfare benefits are substantial and well-evidenced
Use wheat, barley or chopped straw at minimum 2-3 kg per pig per day as a welfare-beneficial substrate
Combine straw provision with other enrichment materials (wooden chews, chains) for additive welfare benefit
Engage with supply chains and certification bodies that recognise and incentivise straw-bedded pig production systems