Research demonstrates that pigs experience positive emotional states including play, curiosity, and apparent joy, making positive welfare opportunities as important as preventing suffering.
Modern animal welfare science emphasizes that preventing suffering is necessary but not sufficient — animals should also experience positive states. Pigs in good welfare conditions exhibit spontaneous play, exploratory behavior, and social affiliation that indicate genuine positive experiences. Farm systems that enable these behaviors produce measurably healthier, higher-performing animals alongside better welfare.