Recognising pain in pigs is challenging because prey species conceal signs of weakness, yet effective pain recognition and management is essential for pig welfare and is increasingly required by farm assurance schemes.
Pain in pigs has historically been underrecognised and undertreated. The assumption that farm animals are less sensitive to pain than companion animals is not supported by evidence - pigs have pain processing neurology comparable to mammals generally. Validated pain assessment tools provide farmers and vets with objective methods for recognising and quantifying pain states. Using NSAIDs for castration, tail docking, and surgical procedures, as well as for illness and injury, represents a significant and achievable welfare improvement for hundreds of millions of pigs.