Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Pain Recognition and Management Progress

Pain recognition and management in pigs has improved significantly but remains inconsistently applied in commercial farming.

Key Facts

The Pig Grimace Scale provides a validated facial-based pain assessment tool for pigs
Routine procedures including castration and tail docking should include analgesia
NSAID analgesics are effective for post-procedural and disease pain management in pigs
Farm stockperson training in pain recognition improves welfare outcomes significantly
Pain monitoring at herd level can identify welfare problems before they escalate

Welfare Considerations

Pig pain is real, substantial and chronically undertreated in commercial farming. Progress on validated pain scales and increased availability of analgesics has created the tools for better management. The limiting factor is now training, culture and economic commitment to implementation.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification requiring pain management protocols for all procedures
Advocate for veterinary prescription of analgesics for pigs as a routine expectation
Choose pork products from farms with documented pain management and stockperson training standards