Welfare outcome metrics that measure actual animal experience rather than management inputs provide more reliable and actionable welfare assessment for commercial pig production systems.
The shift from input-based to outcome-based welfare assessment represents one of the most important advances in farm animal welfare science. Checking whether a farm has enrichment present tells us little about whether pigs are using it and benefiting from it. Measuring tail biting rates, skin lesion prevalence, and behavioral indicators of positive welfare tells us directly what individual animals experience. Outcome-based metrics are more demanding to collect but provide the information needed to actually improve welfare rather than simply demonstrate compliance with minimum requirements.