Research has documented that pigs experience joy, play, and positive emotional states, raising the bar for what good pig welfare looks like beyond absence of suffering.
Documentation of positive welfare states in pigs transforms welfare goals from harm reduction to positive flourishing. Pigs that run, jump, tumble, and play are expressing positive welfare. Pigs that investigate novel objects without fear are demonstrating cognitive engagement and positive welfare. Production systems that systematically prevent these positive experiences fail pigs even if they avoid overt cruelty. High-welfare pig farming creates conditions where play, social positive interaction, and exploration are regular parts of daily life.