The scientific recognition of farm animal sentience - their capacity to experience pain, pleasure, and emotions - is reshaping animal welfare law and policy globally.
The recognition of farm animal sentience has profound implications for what we owe to animals in our care. If pigs, cows, and chickens can experience not just pain but also fear, boredom, frustration, and positive emotions like pleasure and excitement, then welfare standards that focus only on preventing physical harm are inadequate. A sentience-informed welfare framework asks not just 'are these animals suffering?' but 'are these animals able to experience positive states - curiosity, play, social bonding, comfort?' This shift from a pain-avoidance model to a positive welfare model requires fundamental changes to how farm systems are designed and evaluated. The science of animal sentience is clear enough that policy must catch up.