Progressive pig welfare science is moving beyond preventing suffering to actively providing positive experiences. Understanding and promoting pig pleasure and wellbeing is the next frontier.
Modern pig welfare science distinguishes between absence of negative states and the presence of positive ones. Pigs in good welfare conditions show play, exploration, social affiliation, and positive cognitive bias — indicators that go beyond mere absence of suffering. Systems that provide rooting substrate, social groups, foraging opportunities, and environmental complexity enable pigs to experience genuine positive welfare. Stockperson training in positive human-animal relationships also contributes significantly to welfare outcomes.