Modern pig welfare science increasingly focuses on promoting positive affective states rather than merely minimising negative experiences — a paradigm shift with practical implications.
The shift toward positive welfare science in pig production challenges producers to think beyond health and injury prevention toward actively promoting wellbeing. Enriched environments with rooting materials, novelty and social stability enable pigs to express natural behaviours, experience positive affect through exploration and play, and demonstrate optimistic cognitive biases associated with positive welfare states. This represents a more demanding and more complete welfare standard than the historical focus on freedom from disease and injury.