Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Positive Emotion and Play Welfare Science

Scientific study of positive emotions and play in pigs is transforming how we think about and assess farm animal welfare.

Key Facts

Play behaviour in pigs is spontaneous and indicates positive affective states
Pig play includes locomotor play such as running and jumping and object play
Ear posture and vocalisation studies have revealed emotional communication in pigs
Anticipatory behaviour before positive events reveals hedonic experience capacity
Research groups including the Cambridge Wellbeing team have pioneered positive pig welfare science

Welfare Considerations

Positive welfare science for pigs has moved the field from preventing suffering to actively promoting positive experiences. This shift has profound implications for how we assess farm systems and what we require from welfare certification.

What You Can Do

Support research organisations advancing positive welfare science for farm animals
Advocate for positive welfare indicators alongside negative ones in farm certification systems
Engage with pig welfare science communication to understand what positive welfare means in practice