Research into positive emotional states in pigs is translating into practical farm interventions that promote play, exploration, and contentment beyond merely preventing suffering.
Positive welfare science is shifting pig husbandry from a focus on eliminating suffering to actively promoting positive experiences. Farms where pigs play, explore, and show optimistic cognitive bias are measurably doing something different - and better. Translating this research into practical farm guidance, training, and certification standards represents the next frontier in pig welfare improvement.