Play behaviour in pigs is a reliable positive welfare indicator. Understanding when and why pigs play helps farmers and advocates recognise and promote good welfare conditions.
Play is one of the most reliable positive welfare indicators in pigs. It requires a surplus of energy, a sense of safety, and freedom from chronic stress — all of which are absent in poorly managed intensive systems. Research has established that play frequency correlates with other welfare indicators including lower cortisol, lower aggression rates, and better growth performance. This means that designing systems that allow pig play is not just ethically important — it is also commercially beneficial. The simplest and most cost-effective enrichment — deep straw bedding — is sufficient to dramatically increase play frequency and welfare outcomes.