Valid pain assessment tools for sheep, including the SPFACS and grimace scales, allow farmers and vets to identify and respond to pain more effectively than was previously possible.
Pain assessment in sheep has historically relied on subjective observation, often missing signs of pain in a species that evolved to hide vulnerability. Validated assessment tools allow objective, consistent pain scoring that enables better treatment decisions and welfare monitoring. Training farmers and vets in sheep pain recognition and assessment is a direct welfare intervention.