Progressive animal welfare science is shifting from a focus on preventing suffering to actively promoting positive welfare states, recognising that animals have the capacity for positive experiences that farms can support.
A farm that only prevents suffering but provides no opportunity for positive experiences falls short of genuine welfare. Pigs that cannot root, explore, or play are missing positive experiences that are part of a good life. Cows that cannot groom each other, lick their calves, or explore novel objects are experiencing deprivation that goes beyond measurable suffering. Positive welfare provision - enriched environments, opportunities for natural behaviour, and social interaction - is increasingly recognised as part of what animals need for good welfare, not a luxury addition.