Play behaviour in farm animals is a positive indicator of good welfare and an underutilised signal for assessing whether farming systems meet animals natural needs.
Play is not a trivial behaviour: it is a reliable and scientifically validated indicator of positive welfare states in young and adult farm animals. Animals engage in play when they have adequate energy, freedom from pain and fear, and enriching environments that allow natural behaviour expression. The absence of play in farm animals — particularly young stock — is a welfare warning sign, while its presence signals that animals have opportunities for positive experiences rather than merely the absence of suffering. Incorporating play behaviour assessment into welfare monitoring frameworks provides a practical tool for identifying and promoting farming systems that go beyond minimum standards to achieve genuinely positive animal experiences.