Research into positive emotional states in pigs is transforming welfare assessment from deficit measurement to the active promotion of good lives.
The science of positive emotional states in pigs represents a fundamental shift in what welfare means and how it is measured. Traditional welfare assessment focused on identifying and removing negative states: pain, fear, hunger, disease. The emerging science of positive welfare asks a different question: not just are pigs free from suffering, but are they experiencing positive states including playfulness, curiosity, satisfaction, and social bonding? The two questions lead to different assessments and different interventions. A pig that is free from clinical disease in a barren environment may score well on traditional welfare measures but poorly on positive welfare assessment. The practical implication is that high welfare requires providing conditions for positive experiences to occur, not merely preventing obvious suffering. Enrichment, social stability, outdoor access, and opportunities for exploration and play are the provisions that generate positive welfare.