Animal welfare science is increasingly recognizing that good welfare requires positive experiences, not just the absence of negative ones. Positive welfare indicators in pigs open new approaches to welfare assessment and improvement.
The traditional focus on reducing suffering leaves untapped the potential for genuinely positive pig welfare. Pigs in good welfare conditions engage in play, explore novelty with curiosity rather than fear, and show cognitive indicators of positive affect. These are not merely the absence of pain — they reflect active positive experience that has value independent of suffering reduction. Providing enrichment that generates positive states, managing social groups for positive bonding, and designing environments that enable choice and control all contribute to positive welfare. Assessment tools that measure both positive and negative welfare states provide a more complete picture of farm welfare quality and give producers targets beyond mere harm avoidance.