Welfare Science

Farm Animal Pain Recognition Advanced Training

Improving stockperson ability to recognize pain in farm animals is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available at scale.

Key Facts

Prey species including pigs and sheep actively conceal pain behaviors
Pain recognition requires species-specific knowledge and validated assessment tools
Grimace scales have been validated for mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, and pigs
Training programs that improve pain recognition lead to more timely treatment
Financial incentives for pain management improve uptake of analgesic protocols

Welfare Considerations

Animals that are not recognized as being in pain do not receive treatment. Training stockpersons to recognize pain is therefore directly welfare-improving. The Grimace Scale and similar validated tools make consistent pain assessment accessible.

What You Can Do

Support stockperson training programs that include validated pain recognition methods
Advocate for pain recognition as a core competency in animal husbandry qualifications
Learn about the validated pain assessment tools available for common farm species