Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Pain Management Advances

Advances in pig pain management including new analgesic protocols, local anaesthesia techniques, and validated pain scales are improving welfare outcomes on progressive farms.

Key Facts

Meloxicam NSAID use is now widespread for pain management in pigs across Europe
Local anaesthesia for castration and tail docking is increasingly required by law
Validated grimace scales for pigs enable objective pain assessment by stockpeople
Acupuncture and physiotherapy are being explored as adjunctive pain management
Long-acting opioid formulations are in development for post-operative pig pain

Welfare Considerations

Pain management advances represent a positive trend in pig welfare. Wider adoption of available tools - NSAIDs, local anaesthesia, and validated assessment scales - can significantly reduce pig pain on farm.

What You Can Do

Support farms with verified pain management protocols for all procedures
Advocate for mandatory pain management in pig welfare legislation
Learn about pig pain management advances and best practice
Choose welfare-certified pork from farms with comprehensive pain management