Pig welfare science has moved beyond measuring the absence of suffering to identifying positive states — moments of play, exploration, and social bonding that indicate genuine thriving.
The welfare of pigs has traditionally been assessed by counting problems — injuries, disease, mortality. The emerging science of positive welfare asks a different question: are these animals experiencing good lives, not just the absence of bad ones? Pigs given environmental enrichment, social stability, and opportunity for play show distinct positive emotional states. Understanding and promoting positive welfare changes what good pig farming looks like — not just reducing harm but actively enabling flourishing.