Pigs are stoic animals that mask pain, making welfare assessment challenging. New validated pain scales and behavioural indicators are improving detection and treatment.
Pig pain is systematically underestimated and undertreated in commercial production. The economic disincentive to use pain relief, combined with poor recognition skills, means pigs routinely undergo painful procedures and conditions without adequate analgesia. Validated pain scales that don't rely on vocalisation are essential tools for improving pig welfare across the industry.