Intensive Farming

Pig Pain Assessment Advances

Research into pig pain recognition has advanced significantly, enabling better welfare management in farming and veterinary contexts.

Key Facts

Pigs have facial pain expression patterns similar to other mammals
The Porcine Grimace Scale allows standardized pain assessment
Under-recognition of pain is a significant welfare problem on pig farms
Proactive pain management protocols improve welfare and production outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Pain in pigs is frequently under-recognized and under-treated because behavioral signs are suppressed in prey species. The development of validated pain assessment tools enables more reliable identification of suffering. Training farm staff and veterinarians in pain recognition and treatment is essential for improving pig welfare across production systems.

What You Can Do

Support organizations developing and disseminating farm animal pain assessment tools
Advocate for mandatory pain management training in veterinary and farming education
Buy pork from farms with proactive pain management commitments
Back research into pig pain biology and treatment efficacy