Research on positive emotions in farm animals and how to foster them through good husbandry.
The traditional focus on avoiding pain, fear, and distress in farm animals is necessary but insufficient. A truly good life for a farm animal includes opportunities for play, exploration, social bonding, and the expression of species-typical pleasures. Research now demonstrates that animals can experience something analogous to joy, curiosity, and contentment — and that farming systems can be designed to foster these states. Farmers who incorporate positive welfare indicators into their daily assessments report improvements in both animal health and their own job satisfaction, suggesting that higher welfare farming benefits all parties involved.