Welfare Science

Pig Positive Welfare Indicators Research

Positive welfare indicators for pigs complement existing negative welfare measures. Research in this area is transforming how welfare is assessed and improved.

Key Facts

Traditional welfare assessment focuses on absence of suffering rather than presence of positive states
Positive indicators include play behaviour, social contact, exploration, and positive anticipation
Qualitative behaviour assessment captures positive emotional states
Pigs show expectation and anticipatory behaviour when positive events are anticipated
Incorporating positive indicators in farm assessment is changing how welfare improvement is measured

Welfare Considerations

Welfare assessment that only measures harm and absence of suffering misses the positive welfare that animals can experience. Pigs in good welfare conditions show play, exploration, and positive social interaction that provide welfare value beyond mere absence of suffering. Assessment frameworks incorporating positive indicators drive improvement toward genuinely good lives, not just absence of suffering.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes incorporating positive welfare indicators
Advocate for positive welfare assessment in farm assurance programmes
Choose pork from farms using positive welfare indicators in their assessments