Recognizing pain in pigs is challenging but critical for welfare. Validated pain assessment tools and treatment protocols are improving outcomes in commercial and research settings.
Pain management in pig farming is an area where welfare science is translating into practice, but progress is slow relative to need. Pigs stoically endure significant pain without obvious displays, which historically led to underestimation of pain prevalence and undertreatment. Modern pain assessment tools, validated against physiological measures, now provide stockpersons with practical ways to identify pain that would previously have gone unnoticed. The challenge is implementing these tools at commercial scale and ensuring medication is both available and used consistently.