Pain Recognition in Farm Animals

Recognising pain in farm animals is essential for welfare monitoring but is challenging given their tendency to mask pain.

Key Facts

Prey animals like sheep and cattle mask pain as a survival strategy against predators
Grimace scales using facial expressions now exist for cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses
The Uneventful Cattle Pain Face Scale has been validated for clinical use in cattle
Pain in farm animals causes reduced feed intake, abnormal postures, and reduced productivity
Formal pain recognition training significantly improves treatment rates on farms

Welfare Considerations

Farm animals hide pain because in evolutionary terms, displaying weakness attracts predators. This creates a significant welfare monitoring challenge. Validated pain scoring tools using facial expression analysis, posture, and movement have been developed and are increasingly used in clinical practice. Pain recognition training for farmers and stockpersons dramatically improves pain identification and treatment rates. Embedding pain recognition into farm animal handling training is one of the most impactful welfare improvements possible.

What You Can Do

Learn the grimace scale for species you work with or are interested in
Advocate for mandatory pain recognition training in farm animal husbandry qualifications
Support research developing and validating pain assessment tools for more species
Choose produce from farms with trained staff using formal welfare assessment
Report suspected pain or welfare compromise to veterinary professionals