Providing enrichment to farmed pigs is not just about preventing negative behaviors — it actively promotes positive welfare states that matter for animal flourishing.
Modern animal welfare science recognizes that preventing suffering is necessary but not sufficient — animals also need opportunities for positive experiences. For pigs, this means environments that allow rooting, exploration, play, and positive social interaction. Research using cognitive bias tests shows that pigs in enriched environments have more optimistic emotional states, making decisions consistent with positive expectations about their environment. Enrichment is thus a welfare investment, not merely a management tool.