Farmed Pig Pain Recognition and Assessment

Recognising pain in pigs is essential for timely treatment; validated assessment tools are improving stockperson ability to identify and respond to pig pain.

Key Facts

Pigs show pain through postural changes, reduced activity, social withdrawal and altered facial expressions
The Pig Grimace Scale provides a validated facial action coding tool for acute pain assessment
Producers often underestimate pain in pigs compared to veterinary assessments
Common painful conditions in pigs include lameness, tail bite wounds, hernias and injuries
NSAIDs including meloxicam are licensed for pain management in pigs
Pain assessment training for stockpeople improves identification and treatment rates
Routine painful procedures including castration and tail docking require pain management
Early identification of lame or injured pigs and removal to hospital pens improves welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Pig pain is systematically underrecognised and undertreated in commercial production. The tendency to assess pain in pigs as less severe than equivalent conditions in companion animals leads to delayed and inadequate treatment. Validated tools including the Pig Grimace Scale provide objective assessment criteria that reduce subjectivity. Training stockpeople in pain recognition and establishing clear protocols for analgesic use and hospital pen management addresses one of the most remediable welfare gaps in pig production. Pain management should be routine, not exceptional.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards that include pain recognition training for stockpeople
Advocate for mandatory NSAID provision for all routine painful procedures in pigs
Choose pork products from certified farms with demonstrated pain management protocols
Support research into improved pig pain assessment tools for routine farm use
Engage with veterinary bodies about pig pain management continuing professional development