Pain recognition in pigs requires careful behavioral observation as pigs, like other prey species, tend to mask signs of pain. Validated assessment tools including the Pig Grimace Scale enable more systematic pain detection.
The stoic presentation of pain in pigs means that even stockpeople with good intentions may fail to identify pain or underestimate its severity. The Pig Grimace Scale provides an objective, validated tool that reduces reliance on subjective assessment and has been shown to improve both detection and treatment rates when adopted. Implementing routine pain assessment as part of daily animal checks, particularly following procedures, illness, or injury, creates a more systematic approach to pain management that directly improves welfare outcomes. Financial constraints on pain management should be addressed through welfare advocacy rather than accepted as inevitable.