Underuse of pain relief in farm animal veterinary practice remains a significant welfare gap. Addressing barriers to analgesia adoption improves welfare for millions of animals annually.
The underuse of pain relief in farm animal practice is a systemic welfare failure with causes rooted in economics, culture, and regulatory gaps. The argument that pain relief costs too much is largely false for common analgesics — the welfare cost savings in faster recovery and better growth rates frequently offset or exceed the medication cost. The cultural barrier — a historical assumption that farm animals experience pain less intensely or matter less than companion animals — is being actively challenged by welfare science demonstrating robust pain responses in all livestock species. Regulatory mandates — requiring analgesia for castration, disbudding, or other procedures — are the most effective driver of rapid industry-wide change, as demonstrated by EU member states that have implemented them. Until mandates exist, veterinary education and farmer training are the primary levers.