Research on pig emotional states has moved beyond stress measurement to identify positive affective experiences, with practical implications for farm design and enrichment that promote genuine wellbeing.
The shift toward positive welfare science in pig research recognizes that absence of suffering is insufficient; genuinely good welfare requires the presence of positive experiences. Farms that provide only minimal enrichment may avoid acute suffering while still denying pigs access to the curiosity, play, and exploration that represent positive flourishing. Operationalizing positive welfare through behavioral indicators creates practical tools for farm assessment that go beyond conventional health and injury metrics.