Play behavior in pigs is a reliable indicator of positive welfare states and offers a practical metric for assessing farm conditions.
Pig play behavior is more than a pleasant indicator — it provides actionable welfare intelligence. When play rates drop, something is wrong: check for disease, overcrowding, resource competition, or environmental deficits. When play rates are high and diverse, welfare conditions are likely meeting the pigs' needs. Incorporating play observation into routine farm welfare assessment provides farmers with real-time feedback on husbandry quality. The science of positive welfare indicators for pigs has advanced considerably, moving beyond the absence of suffering to the active presence of positive states. Enrichment investments that promote play are often associated with reduced disease and improved growth.