Training stockpeople to recognize and respond to pain in pigs is one of the most impactful welfare interventions in commercial pig farming, improving detection and treatment of conditions causing significant suffering.
Stockperson pain recognition is the critical gateway to pain treatment in farm settings. Without recognition, pain cannot be treated regardless of what analgesics are available. The Pig Grimace Scale and training programs that improve stockperson detection capability represent a direct pathway to welfare improvement across the farm population. The measurable impact of pain recognition training on farm welfare outcomes demonstrates that this is one of the highest-impact investments available at the farm level. Regulatory requirements for stockperson training in animal welfare are an important mechanism for ensuring baseline competency.