Sheep are stoic prey animals that mask pain, making welfare assessment challenging. Validated pain scoring tools improve detection and treatment of painful conditions.
Sheep pain assessment suffers from the species' tendency to mask vulnerability in social groups. A limping sheep continues grazing and interacting socially even when in severe pain. Grimace scales that assess involuntary facial muscle tension provide a more reliable pain indicator than movement-based assessments. Improving stockworker literacy in sheep pain recognition and improving access to appropriate analgesics are the most direct welfare interventions available.