Pig Pain Recognition: Practical Guide

How stockpeople and vets can recognise pain in pigs using validated behavioural and physiological indicators.

Key Facts

The Pig Grimace Scale provides a validated tool for facial action analysis to assess pig pain
Pain indicators in pigs include changes in posture, gait, social withdrawal, and reduced activity
Pigs experiencing pain typically show reduced interest in food, lying in abnormal positions, and reluctance to move
Validated pain scales help distinguish genuine pain from other welfare compromises including fear or illness
Training stockpeople in pain recognition has demonstrated measurable improvements in pain management on farms

Welfare Considerations

Pain recognition in pigs is a welfare competency that all stockpeople handling pigs should possess. Pigs are stoic animals that conceal pain as a survival strategy, meaning that obvious signs of pain often indicate significant and prolonged suffering. Training in subtle pain indicators — changes in ear position, facial expression, posture, and social behaviour — allows earlier identification and treatment of painful conditions. The Pig Grimace Scale, developed through systematic validation, provides a practical tool that can be used in field conditions without specialist equipment. Farms that train their staff in pain recognition and provide appropriate analgesics for common painful conditions demonstrate measurably better welfare outcomes across multiple indicators.

What You Can Do

Learn the Pig Grimace Scale and use it to assess pigs suspected of experiencing pain
Advocate for mandatory pain recognition training for all commercial pig farm stockpeople
Ensure appropriate veterinary-prescribed pain relief is available on pig farms for common painful conditions
Support research into the prevalence of unrecognised pain in commercial pig populations
Follow Animal Pain Management guidelines from the IASP for species-specific guidance on pig pain assessment and treatment