The emerging field of positive welfare science examines not just the absence of suffering but the presence of positive emotional states in farm animals, with pigs as a key study species.
Traditional welfare science focused on preventing suffering, but a complete welfare assessment must include evidence of positive states. Pigs experiencing positive emotions show characteristic behaviours including play, exploration, and affiliative social interaction. Farming systems designed to elicit positive welfare states rather than merely prevent negative ones represent a higher standard of animal care.