A welfare science shift from minimizing suffering to promoting positive states is transforming pig welfare assessment, with validated positive indicators now available for practical use.
The welfare science movement toward positive welfare transforms the question from 'are pigs suffering?' to 'are pigs flourishing?' This shift has profound implications - environments and management practices that merely avoid obvious suffering may still fail to provide the positive experiences (play, exploration, social bonding, curiosity) that constitute a good life for sentient animals. Practical assessment of positive welfare indicators on farms - measuring play frequency, positive social interactions, and exploratory behavior - provides a richer welfare picture than focusing solely on injury rates and disease. Operations that actively promote positive states represent a higher welfare standard.