Evidence-based approaches to pain assessment in pigs and improving analgesic use on farms.
Key Facts
The Pig Grimace Scale enables reliable pain assessment in pigs
Painful procedures including castration and tail docking are still common
NSAIDs significantly reduce pain and improve recovery outcomes
Farmers often underestimate pain in pigs compared to veterinary assessment
Analgesic use in pig farming remains lower than welfare evidence recommends
Welfare Considerations
Widespread undertreatment of pain in pigs causes significant preventable suffering, and improving analgesic use is a high-priority welfare intervention.
What You Can Do
Advocate for mandatory analgesia for all painful procedures in pigs
Support farmers in accessing and using pain management protocols
Choose pork from farms committed to pain management standards