Play behaviour in pigs is a reliable indicator of positive welfare, with play frequency used as a welfare outcome measure in research and practice.
Play in pigs is much more than entertainment. Research demonstrates that play frequency reflects overall welfare state, serving as an accessible welfare outcome measure that correlates with more invasive assessments. Pigs in barren, overcrowded or painful conditions do not play. Pigs in enriched environments with adequate space, good health and positive social relationships play frequently. Measuring play as a positive welfare indicator, rather than focusing only on the absence of negative states, provides a more complete picture of welfare and motivates improvements toward genuine flourishing rather than merely preventing suffering.