Advances in pain management for cattle dehorning have improved welfare significantly when implemented, but adoption of best practice remains inconsistent across farming systems.
Dehorning pain management represents a clear case where welfare science has provided solutions that legislation and practice have been slow to adopt universally. The combination of local anaesthetic and NSAID analgesia effectively manages both acute and post-procedural pain. The barriers to adoption include cost, time, and veterinary prescription requirements for some analgesics. Welfare-focused farmers and veterinarians have demonstrated that comprehensive pain management is practical and affordable. Legislative requirements for pain relief represent the most reliable mechanism for achieving consistent adoption across the industry.