Sheep are subjected to multiple painful procedures including lambing assistance, foot trimming, and drenching, and analgesic use remains inconsistently applied across the industry.
Sheep welfare is consistently underserved by analgesic provision relative to other farmed species. The view that sheep are stoic or have reduced pain sensitivity has been comprehensively disproved by research, yet the practical reality on many farms is that painful procedures are performed without pain relief. Cost, access, and cultural norms all contribute. Veterinary-farmer partnerships that make prescription analgesics more accessible and economical, combined with farm welfare training that normalizes pain recognition in sheep, are the most effective routes to systemic improvement. Certification schemes requiring pain management plans for specified procedures send the right market signal.