Swine Health Blackbelt #38 - Measuring and managing pain in pigs: techniques and considerations

It is a fact that pigs can experience pain. Therefore, it is also a fact that ensuring they are not suffering is crucial. In that sense, the study of pain management in pigs can help identify and develop effective techniques that benefit the pig industry. However, it is essential to bear in mind that pain is subjective and can be challenging to measure in animals, so developing effective methods of measuring pain in pigs is as important as managing it. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Caddiell and I discuss pig behavior and pain management techniques, including ways to measure pain, such as researcher observations, cameras, and data collection frequency.

Meet the guest

Dr. Rachel Caddiell

Experience

○ Current: Graduate Research Associate in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University; Third Party Auditor at Humane Farm Animal Care (Certified Humane®)

○ Past: Graduate Teaching Assistant at Texas A&M University

Background

○ Ph.D., Comparative Biomedical Science (North Carolina State University)

○ M.Sc., Animal Sciences (Texas A&M University)

○ B.Sc., Psychology (The Ohio State University)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn