Modern animal welfare science increasingly emphasises the assessment and promotion of positive welfare states, not just the absence of suffering, transforming how farm welfare is evaluated.
The shift toward positive welfare indicators represents a genuine scientific and ethical advance. A system that aims only to eliminate the worst suffering misses the full range of an animal's potential experience. Animals have evolved to seek pleasure, form social bonds, play, explore, and express species-specific behaviours that bring intrinsic satisfaction. Farm systems that accommodate these needs do not just reduce suffering - they enable animals to thrive. Positive welfare science also provides a more powerful message for consumer engagement, moving beyond images of suffering to portray what good welfare actually looks like for an animal.