Moving beyond measuring only suffering, pig positive welfare science identifies specific behaviors and states that indicate pigs are thriving and experiencing good quality of life.
Traditional animal welfare assessment focused almost entirely on identifying and reducing suffering, leaving aside the question of whether animals could thrive rather than merely survive. Positive welfare science for pigs has identified reliable behavioral and cognitive indicators of good emotional states. Pigs in enriched environments with stable social groups show measurably more play, exploration, and optimistic decision-making. Incorporating positive welfare indicators alongside negative measures gives a fuller picture of pig wellbeing and creates clearer targets for farm improvement programs.