Recognizing pain in pigs through behavioral observation enables timely welfare intervention, with specific signs that stockpeople can be trained to identify reliably.
Pain recognition training for farm stockpeople is one of the highest-impact welfare interventions available in commercial pig production. The animal cannot communicate pain verbally and is motivated to conceal vulnerability in group settings. A stockperson who lacks training may not recognize that a pig is in significant pain until the condition has advanced substantially. Validated training programs using the Pig Grimace Scale and behavioral pain indicators enable earlier recognition and response, directly reducing the duration of untreated pain that is the primary welfare harm. This investment in human competence translates directly to animal welfare improvement.