Farm Animal Welfare

Recognizing and Treating Pain in Sheep

Sheep are prey animals that hide signs of pain, making welfare assessment challenging. Better pain recognition tools are improving outcomes.

Key Facts

Sheep evolved to hide pain to avoid predator attention
The Sheep Pain Facial Action Coding System (ShPACS) has improved pain detection
Lameness affects up to 10% of sheep in some flocks
Footrot and foot scald are major causes of chronic pain in sheep
Castration and tail docking without analgesia remain common in many countries

Welfare Considerations

Because sheep mask pain effectively, farmers may underestimate suffering in their flocks. Training in pain recognition, combined with analgesic use for routine procedures, can significantly reduce welfare harms. Research shows that effective pain management improves weight gain and reproductive performance, creating economic as well as welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Support sheep welfare organizations advocating for pain relief in routine procedures
Choose lamb from farms committed to higher welfare standards
Encourage veterinary associations to mandate pain relief protocols
Reduce lamb consumption or explore plant-based alternatives