Farm Animals

Pig Positive Welfare Indicators and Assessment

Moving beyond the absence of suffering to positive welfare indicators requires new tools to assess thriving in farmed pigs.

Key Facts

Positive welfare indicators include play, exploration, and positive social interactions
The Pig Welfare Assessment Protocol covers both negative and positive indicators
Play behaviour in pigs is associated with positive affective states
Ear posture and tail posture are reliable indicators of pig emotional state
Positive human-animal relationships reduce fear and improve welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Positive welfare means more than absence of suffering - it means animals are able to thrive, express natural behaviours, and experience positive emotions. Measuring positive welfare in pigs requires validated behavioural indicators rather than just health metrics.

What You Can Do

Support farms assessed using positive welfare indicator protocols
Advocate for welfare assessment schemes that include positive welfare measures
Learn about pig behaviour to better understand what thriving looks like