Pain management in farm animals has historically been neglected, but scientific advances in pain recognition and analgesia are beginning to transform welfare standards.
Pain management in farm animals was for decades limited by difficulty in recognising pain in stoic species and lack of approved analgesics. Both barriers have reduced: Grimace Scales now allow reliable pain assessment, and a wider formulary of licensed analgesics is available. The remaining barrier is primarily cultural — farmer reluctance to incur the cost and veterinary time of pain relief for routine procedures. Regulatory requirements and clear economic evidence are driving gradual improvement.