Positive welfare indicators for pigs - signs of good welfare rather than absence of suffering - are transforming how pig welfare is assessed and managed.
The shift from measuring negative welfare (absence of suffering) to positive welfare (presence of good experiences) is transforming pig welfare assessment. Pigs in good welfare show play behavior, exploratory rooting, social play, and positive anticipatory responses. These behaviors are not merely the absence of bad things - they require active provision of appropriate substrate, social groups, space, and enrichment. Positive welfare assessment frameworks challenge the industry to go beyond preventing harm to actively promoting flourishing. A pig that is well-fed and healthy but cannot root, play, or explore has poor welfare by positive welfare standards even when meeting basic need-based frameworks.