Modern farm animal welfare science increasingly focuses on positive welfare states rather than just the absence of suffering. Identifying and measuring positive indicators is an active research priority.
The shift toward positive welfare assessment in farm animals represents a fundamental change in how animal welfare is understood and measured. Traditional welfare assessment focused on detecting and reducing negative states - pain, fear, hunger, discomfort. Modern welfare science adds an equal focus on whether animals experience positive states - pleasure, curiosity, contentment, and play. Farm animals in enriched environments demonstrably express positive welfare behaviours including spontaneous play in calves, social grooming in pigs, and dust bathing satisfaction in hens. Measuring these positive indicators provides a more complete welfare assessment and sets a higher bar than merely ensuring animals are not suffering.