Effective pain relief is underused in livestock farming worldwide, leaving millions of animals suffering from painful procedures, injuries, and disease without adequate analgesia.
The under-use of analgesia in livestock is one of the most important and tractable welfare problems in agriculture. Effective, affordable pain relief exists for most common painful procedures. Barriers include cost perception, lack of prescribing culture, and limited veterinary engagement on farms. Welfare certification schemes that mandate pain relief for procedures, combined with vet education programs, can shift practice significantly.