Chronic pain in pigs is underdiagnosed and undertreated in commercial farming, representing a significant welfare challenge across the industry.
Chronic pain represents one of the most widespread and least addressed welfare problems in commercial pig farming. Unlike acute injuries, chronic pain is often subtle in expression and may be dismissed as normal variation in productivity. Pigs are highly intelligent and emotionally responsive, and long-term pain profoundly diminishes their quality of life. The welfare implications extend beyond individual animals — chronic pain in breeding sows means millions of individuals experiencing persistent suffering over their productive lives. Solutions exist: softer flooring, genetic selection for robustness, routine pain scoring, and better access to veterinary care can all reduce chronic pain burden when prioritized by producers.