Play behaviour in pigs is a reliable positive welfare indicator. Understanding when and why pigs play helps farmers and researchers assess and improve welfare in commercial settings.
Play in pigs is not a frivolous add-on to welfare assessment but a reliable window into the emotional state of the animal. Pigs under chronic stress — from crowding, barren environments, social instability or health problems — reduce or eliminate play behaviour. Monitoring play frequency can therefore serve as a practical welfare indicator on farm. The interventions that support play are well-established: adequate space, stable social groups, rooting and manipulation substrates, and health that enables vigorous activity. The scientific study of pig play has contributed significantly to the positive welfare paradigm in farm animal science, demonstrating that good welfare is not merely the absence of suffering but the presence of positive experiences including joy and exploration.