Sheep undergo painful procedures including castration, tail docking, and footrot treatment often without adequate pain relief, creating significant preventable suffering in one of the world's most commonly farmed animals.
Sheep welfare has historically been neglected partly because their pain expression is subtle and their stoic behavior masks suffering from casual observation. Unanaesthetized castration and tail docking cause acute pain measurable through cortisol, heart rate, and behavioral indicators. Post-procedural pain continues for hours to days. Footrot causes severe lameness - sheep with untreated footrot demonstrate pain behaviors including shifting weight, lying down to avoid standing, and reduced feed intake that directly impacts body condition. The preventable nature of most sheep pain through available analgesics makes undertreated sheep welfare a choice rather than a necessity.