Training farm workers in pig pain recognition significantly improves welfare outcomes by enabling earlier detection and appropriate response to suffering.
Pain recognition training is one of the highest-impact, most cost-effective welfare interventions available for pig farms. The barrier to better pain management on pig farms is not primarily medication availability or cost - it is the ability of farm workers to recognize that an animal is in pain and requires treatment. Training programs that improve this recognition directly increase welfare by reducing the duration of untreated pain. The training investment is modest relative to the welfare return, and its effectiveness makes pain recognition training a priority for any welfare improvement program targeting pig farms.