Recognizing pain in pigs requires familiarity with species-specific behavioral indicators as pigs are prey animals that suppress pain expression, making systematic assessment tools essential for welfare management.
Underrecognition of pain in pigs is a major welfare challenge across both intensive and extensive production systems. The stoic nature of pigs combined with the difficulty of individual assessment in large groups means painful conditions can persist undetected. Validated pain assessment tools like the Pig Grimace Scale provide structured approaches that improve detection. Farm staff training in pain recognition is one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions available because it enables earlier identification and treatment of painful conditions across all the animals under their care. Routine post-procedural analgesia should be standard practice for all painful husbandry procedures.