Castration of male lambs is common practice in sheep farming but causes significant pain that can be substantially reduced through analgesia and technique choice.
Castration without analgesia causes significant acute pain and subsequent chronic discomfort during scrotal necrosis and sloughing with rubber rings. Behavioural pain indicators including abnormal postures, reduced activity, and increased vocalisation persist for hours after castration. Meloxicam administration before or immediately after rubber ring application dramatically reduces pain behaviour and cortisol elevation. Welfare-responsible castration routinely includes pain relief, which has minimal cost relative to welfare benefit.