Farmed Pig Pain Management: Recognising and Treating Chronic Pain

Chronic pain in farmed pigs from injuries, disease, and husbandry procedures is significantly underrecognised and undertreated, representing a major welfare gap that improved stockmanship and veterinary protocols can address.

Key Facts

Pain recognition in pigs relies on behavioural indicators including abnormal posture, reduced activity, and social withdrawal.
The Pig Grimace Scale provides validated facial action units associated with pain that can be used for assessment.
Lameness, a major welfare indicator, is highly prevalent in sow herds and frequently undertreated.
Tail bite wounds cause acute and chronic pain — wounds scoring 3 or 4 on standardised scales require immediate treatment.
Post-weaning diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal conditions cause visceral pain that is difficult to assess externally.
NSAID use in pig farming is increasing but remains inconsistent — many farms lack clear treatment protocols for pain.
Regulatory requirements for pain relief in pigs are less stringent than for companion animals despite similar pain capabilities.

Welfare Considerations

Pigs have a fully developed central nervous system with pain pathways equivalent to those of companion animals and humans. The assumption that production animals require less pain management than pets is scientifically indefensible and ethically problematic. Implementing effective pain management requires training stockpeople to recognise pain indicators, establishing clear treatment thresholds and protocols in consultation with farm vets, and ensuring that first aid treatments including NSAIDs are available on farm. Pain management should be integrated into routine health planning rather than treated as an exceptional intervention.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented pain management protocols and regular veterinary involvement.
Advocate for mandatory pain relief requirements for invasive procedures in all pig production systems.
Choose pork from higher-welfare certified farms with explicit pain management requirements.
Support research into pig pain assessment tools that are practical for use in commercial farm settings.