Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Pain Management Welfare Standards

Pain management in cattle for procedures and disease has improved significantly but remains inconsistently applied across the industry.

Key Facts

Local anaesthesia for dehorning is legally required in some countries but not enforced uniformly
NSAIDs provide effective analgesia for cattle with fever, lameness and post-procedural pain
Opioid analgesics are available for severe pain management in cattle but rarely used commercially
Veterinary prescription of analgesics is the gateway to improved pain management on farms
Research shows that pain-managed cattle recover faster and perform better than untreated counterparts

Welfare Considerations

Cattle pain management has the evidence, the drugs and the veterinary knowledge base to be dramatically improved. The gap between what is possible and what is routinely practised is one of the most significant welfare improvement opportunities in the UK cattle industry.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory pain management protocols for all cattle procedures in farm assurance
Support vet training in cattle pain assessment and prescription of appropriate analgesics
Ask cattle producers about their pain management standards for routine procedures and disease treatment