Positive welfare science in pigs identifies emotional states beyond mere absence of suffering, including playfulness, curiosity, and anticipatory pleasure that indicate genuine wellbeing.
Pig welfare science has moved beyond preventing suffering to actively promoting positive states. Pigs that play are pigs experiencing something positive - their brains are engaged, their bodies are active, and they are expressing natural behaviors. Housing systems that enable play, curiosity, and social engagement produce animals with better immune function, lower stress hormones, and better production outcomes alongside genuinely improved welfare.