Dehorning and disbudding of cattle are among the most commonly performed painful procedures in livestock farming, yet pain relief use remains inconsistent globally despite strong scientific evidence for its necessity.
Dehorning and disbudding without analgesia are among the most clearly documented sources of preventable livestock pain. The procedures cause acute pain visible in behavior, physiology, and cortisol levels. The argument that pain relief is unnecessary or cost-prohibitive is not supported by evidence — lidocaine blocks are inexpensive and effective, and NSAID treatment adds minimal cost. The continued performance of these procedures without analgesia in systems that claim humane practices is a significant welfare gap.