Better tools for assessing pain in livestock are transforming how farmers and veterinarians detect and treat suffering. Behavioral and physiological indicators now allow earlier intervention.
Pain in livestock was historically undertreated because farmers lacked reliable tools to assess it. Validated pain assessment tools including grimace scales, behavioral checklists, and gait scoring systems are changing this by enabling objective measurement. Wider adoption of these tools by farmers and veterinarians represents a major opportunity to reduce livestock suffering.