Perioperative pain management in cattle is systematically inadequate in many production systems, with evidence showing that analgesia improves both welfare and production outcomes.
Pain management in cattle has historically lagged behind companion animal medicine, with many routine procedures performed without adequate analgesia. Dehorning and castration cause acute and post-operative pain that persists for days without treatment. Perioperative pain significantly impairs feed intake, social behaviour, and recovery. Evidence clearly shows that multimodal analgesia — combining local blocks with systemic NSAIDs — provides superior welfare outcomes at minimal additional cost. Veterinary protocols that mandate pain relief for all surgical and semi-surgical procedures in cattle are achievable and welfare-essential.