Accurate pain assessment in cattle is essential for welfare but challenging due to stoic behaviour and production pressures. Validated tools are improving identification and treatment of pain.
Pain management in cattle has historically been inadequate, driven by the difficulty of recognising pain in stoic animals and the economic pressures of commercial farming. However, validated pain assessment tools developed over the past decade are enabling more systematic identification of pain in farm settings. Facial grimace scales for cattle show promise as practical on-farm assessment tools that stockpersons can be trained to use. The economic case for pain management is increasingly well-established, as untreated pain reduces feed intake, milk production, and recovery rates while increasing disease progression. Pain management around common husbandry procedures including disbudding, castration, and difficult calvings is increasingly mandated or recommended in progressive welfare legislation and certification standards. Building a culture of proactive pain management requires training, appropriate analgesic access, and institutional support for veterinary pain assessment skills.