Livestock

Cattle Pain Management Protocols

Effective pain management is fundamental to cattle welfare, yet pain recognition and treatment remain inconsistent across the industry.

Key Facts

Cattle show subtle pain indicators including reduced movement and altered posture
Grimace scales have been validated for cattle pain assessment
NSAIDs and local anaesthetics are underused in cattle procedures
Painful procedures such as dehorning are commonly performed without pain relief
EU regulations require pain relief for dehorning but enforcement varies

Welfare Considerations

Cattle that experience untreated pain show reduced feed intake, weight loss, and suppressed immune function. Pain management improves production outcomes as well as welfare. Training farmers to recognise cattle pain indicators and providing easy access to analgesics are key steps toward better pain management.

What You Can Do

Support veterinary training programmes in cattle pain recognition
Advocate for mandatory pain relief in all painful procedures
Choose beef and dairy from farms with documented pain management protocols
Support research into effective analgesic protocols for cattle
Encourage farm assurance schemes to include pain management requirements