How chronic pain conditions in pigs are recognized and managed, and the welfare gaps in commercial pig production pain management.
Chronic pain in pigs is one of the most significant and most overlooked welfare problems in commercial production. Sows with painful joints and feet are often kept in production through multiple parities without adequate pain assessment or treatment. The stoic nature of pigs means that chronic pain is often not recognized until lameness is severe. Unlike acute pain from procedures, chronic pain accumulates over weeks and months, causing prolonged suffering. Regular gait assessment, targeted pain treatment, and culling decisions that prioritize welfare over economic factors are all needed to address this welfare gap.