Pain management in sheep has historically lagged behind other farm animals, but growing welfare science and regulatory pressure are improving analgesic use during painful procedures.
Sheep pain management represents a significant welfare improvement opportunity. The species' stoicism means pain is historically underestimated and under-treated in sheep farming. Procedures causing documented pain - castration, tail docking, foot trimming - are performed on millions of sheep annually, often without analgesia. Regulatory and assurance scheme pressure is gradually increasing analgesic use, but uptake remains incomplete. The economic argument that pain relief is cost-effective through improved growth performance is increasingly persuasive to farmers. Vet-farmer partnerships that normalise routine analgesic use for painful procedures represent the most effective pathway to widespread improvement.