Advances in sheep pain assessment tools have improved our ability to recognize suffering in this stoic species, enabling better welfare management in both farm and veterinary settings.
Sheep suffer from pain as acutely as other mammals but their behavioral responses can be subtle and easily missed. Lame sheep experience chronic pain that reduces their mobility, feeding behavior, and ability to compete with flock-mates. Painful husbandry procedures performed without analgesia cause acute suffering that is both measurable and preventable. The development and dissemination of validated pain assessment tools for sheep is enabling more welfare-conscious management across the industry.