Advanced measurement of positive emotional outcomes in pigs validates enrichment investments and enables comparison of welfare outcomes across different production systems.
Advanced positive welfare measurement in pigs enables the auditing of positive welfare outcomes that regulatory frameworks increasingly require. Welfare Quality protocols that include a positive welfare domain need practical, reliable assessment tools for farm-level use. The combination of QBA — which requires trained but not specialist observers — and simple behavioral indicators like play frequency and ear posture provides an accessible toolkit for routine positive welfare assessment. Farms with documented high positive welfare scores show lower disease rates, better productivity, and higher consumer trust in marketing contexts.