Assessment of positive welfare states in pigs goes beyond absence of suffering, with play behaviour, exploration, and social play indicating good welfare conditions.
Positive welfare assessment in pigs recognises that good welfare means more than preventing suffering — pigs experiencing positive emotional states show enhanced immune function, better growth rates, and resilience to stress challenges. Play behaviour is particularly informative — pigs that play are demonstrating positive affect and adequate welfare provision. Environments that permit exploration, social play, and investigation of novel stimuli support positive welfare states alongside basic needs. Integration of positive indicators into audit frameworks provides a more complete welfare picture.