A rack of straw can improve pigs’ contentment, welfare, economic performance and pork quality, according to research in Spain recently published in the scientific journal Animal.
The researchers also compared other popular stress relievers, such as hanging chains. logs and paper.
They found that straw was by far the best. Pigs could pick the straw out of a rack.
The researchers studied 96 male pigs, six per pen, ranging in age from 70 to 170 days old.
