Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Pain Recognition Using the Sheep Pain Facial Action Coding System

The Sheep Pain Facial Action Coding System (SPFACS) enables non-invasive assessment of pain in sheep.

Key Facts

The SPFACS scores five facial regions: orbital tightening, cheek tightening, ear position, lip and jaw changes
Validated against clinical pain assessments in studies of experimental and natural pain
Can be reliably used by trained farmers and veterinary staff
Allows welfare assessment without handling, reducing stress-induced confounding
Currently used in research but uptake in commercial farming remains limited

Welfare Considerations

Pain recognition in sheep has historically been poor because stoic prey species conceal signs. The SPFACS enables earlier identification of painful conditions including foot rot, mastitis and post-surgical pain. Training farmers to recognise pain signals is a cost-effective route to faster treatment and reduced suffering.

What You Can Do

Ask your veterinarian about pain assessment training for sheep farmers
Support research organisations developing and validating farm animal pain scales
Advocate for pain assessment training as part of sheep farmer certification
Share information about facial pain scoring tools with your farming network