Modern pig welfare science has moved beyond measuring suffering to identifying positive welfare indicators — signs that pigs are thriving and experiencing good states — providing a richer and more complete picture of welfare on farms.
Positive welfare science represents a paradigm shift in how we think about animal welfare assessment. Measuring only the absence of suffering sets a low bar — an animal can be free from acute pain but still have a poor life due to boredom, frustration, or the absence of pleasurable experiences. Positive indicators like play, exploration, social engagement, and relaxed body postures reveal whether animals are actually experiencing good states. On pig farms, a thriving herd plays, roots actively, shows curious responses to novel objects, and maintains loose body postures. These are the indicators that differentiate a welfare-positive environment from one that merely avoids the worst outcomes.