A comprehensive review of pig welfare progress in the UK and internationally, identifying what has improved and what requires continued advocacy and research.
Pig welfare in 2025 represents a mixed picture of genuine progress and persistent challenges. The legal transition to group sow housing has been largely completed across the EU and UK, improving gestating sow welfare significantly. Enrichment provision has improved from essentially zero in intensive systems to at least nominal provision in most. However, farrowing crates still confine sows during the critical farrowing and lactation period in most commercial systems. Tail docking without proper justification remains routine in practice despite legal restrictions. Antibiotic stewardship has improved but replacement of antibiotic-dependent systems with welfare-positive alternatives requires continued investment. Consumer, retailer, and regulatory pressure collectively drive improvement, with each mechanism playing a complementary role in the welfare landscape.