Research on positive emotional states in pigs has advanced significantly, with practical implications for farm management that enhance welfare beyond merely avoiding harm.
The science of positive animal welfare has moved beyond preventing suffering to actively promoting flourishing. For pigs, this means creating conditions that enable play, exploration, social positive interactions, and cognitive engagement. Farms can assess positive welfare by monitoring tail posture, play behavior frequency, and approach willingness in human presence — all rapid, low-cost indicators that require no specialist equipment. Management practices that build positive human-animal relationships, provide enrichment, and allow outdoor access or rooting opportunity create measurably better pig welfare profiles.