Pig welfare assessment relies on measurable indicators that help farmers and auditors identify problems before they become serious. Understanding these indicators is key to improving farm outcomes.
Welfare indicators turn the abstract concept of pig welfare into measurable, actionable data. By systematically measuring outcomes like lameness prevalence, injury rates, and behavioral signs of stress, farms can identify problems and benchmark against industry standards. Importantly, good pig welfare is not just the absence of suffering but the presence of positive experiences — exploratory play, rooting, social bonding. Incorporating positive welfare indicators into farm assessment is an emerging priority that moves the field beyond mere harm reduction.