Pigs engage in play behaviour when their welfare needs are met, and promoting positive welfare states through enrichment and good management reflects the highest standard of pig care.
The recognition of positive welfare as a goal beyond the mere absence of suffering has transformed how we think about pig welfare. Measuring play behaviour, exploring curiosity and positive social interaction reveals whether pigs are experiencing good lives rather than merely tolerable ones. Farms that actively promote positive welfare through enrichment, good management and appropriate social housing can demonstrate measurable welfare advantages that go beyond compliance with minimum standards.