Play behavior across farm species is one of the most reliable positive welfare indicators available and is increasingly used in welfare assessment frameworks.
Play is sometimes dismissed as unimportant compared to health metrics, but welfare scientists increasingly recognize it as one of the most meaningful positive welfare indicators. When animals play, they are communicating that their basic needs are met and they have surplus energy for positive engagement with the world. Farms that score high on play frequency consistently score well across other welfare metrics. Incorporating play observation into welfare assessment transforms how we evaluate and improve farm animal wellbeing.