Play behaviour in pigs is a positive welfare indicator that signals good health, adequate nutrition, and positive emotional state. Encouraging play is an important component of high-welfare pig systems.
Play is not a luxury or trivial behaviour in pigs — it is a reliable indicator of positive welfare state. Pigs only play when their basic needs are met and they feel safe. High play rates in a pig group indicate adequate space, good nutrition, absence of chronic pain, and positive social relationships. Conversely, the disappearance of play behaviour is an early warning signal for welfare deterioration, often appearing before other clinical signs of disease or stress. Welfare assessment tools that include play observation alongside negative indicators like injuries and lesions provide a more complete welfare picture. High-welfare farming systems that invest in enrichment and space achieve measurably higher play rates.