Research into positive welfare indicators for pigs is moving beyond absence of suffering to measuring genuine positive states in farm environments.
Positive welfare science for pigs has advanced substantially beyond simply reducing suffering. Researchers now measure affective states through cognitive bias testing (are pigs optimistic or pessimistic about ambiguous cues?), play behavior frequency, social bonding behaviors, and ear posture ethograms. These measures reveal that even pigs meeting minimum legal welfare standards may be experiencing chronically negative affective states. The science supports a higher bar: environments providing sufficient complexity, novelty, and social opportunity to generate genuine positive experiences. Farmers implementing evidence-based enrichment programs report reductions in tail biting and vet intervention costs alongside welfare improvements.