Moving beyond absence-of-harm metrics to actively measuring positive welfare indicators in pigs offers a more complete picture of pig wellbeing and guides management improvements that benefit both pigs and producers.
Relying only on negative welfare indicators such as injuries and stereotypies misses the dimension of positive wellbeing that distinguishes a life worth living from merely one free of suffering. A pig that shows no tail biting but never plays, explores, or seeks social contact may be in a state of behavioral depression rather than positive wellbeing. Integrating positive indicators into welfare audits motivates management changes that go beyond harm prevention to active wellbeing promotion. Farms that score well on positive indicators tend to have better enrichment provision, lower stocking densities, and more engaged stockpeople. Consumer-facing welfare claims increasingly need to demonstrate positive welfare, not just minimum harm standards.