Pig Pain Assessment: Grimace Scales and Behavioural Indicators

Advances in pig pain assessment tools enable earlier detection and more appropriate management of pain in clinical and farm settings.

Key Facts

The Pig Grimace Scale assesses orbital tightening, nose bulge, and ear position as pain indicators
Lameness scoring provides objective assessment of locomotor pain in pigs
Post-operative behaviour monitoring identifies pain after routine procedures
Pain assessment training for farm staff improves pain recognition and treatment rates
Validated pig pain assessment tools are increasingly used in clinical veterinary practice

Welfare Considerations

Pig pain recognition has historically relied on obvious clinical signs, missing the substantial burden of subclinical and moderate pain. Validated grimace scales using facial action units provide earlier detection of pain from less obvious causes. Farm staff trained in pig pain assessment recognise conditions earlier and use analgesia more appropriately. Welfare science demonstrates that widespread unrecognised pain in commercial pig herds represents a significant population welfare burden. Investment in pain recognition training and validated tools pays welfare and production dividends through earlier treatment and reduced chronic pain prevalence.

What You Can Do

Support stockperson training programmes in pig pain recognition
Advocate for pain assessment tool inclusion in pig welfare standards
Encourage use of validated grimace scales at veterinary and farm level
Back research developing new pain indicators for pig welfare assessment
Choose pork from farms with documented pain recognition training programmes