Pain in pigs: Characterisation and indicators

Mette S Herskin, Pierpaolo di Giminiani

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Pain is a perceptional phenomenon built from information gathered by specialised sensory receptors for tissue damage, modified by ascending and descending spinal and supraspinal mechanisms, and integrated into discrete sensory experiences with a negative emotional valence in the brain. Based on porcine neuroanatomy, physiology, behaviour, and pathology, as well as biomedical studies, this chapter reviews evidence for causes of pain in pigs and the possibility for quantification of pain indicators, categorised according to: (1) model studies, where tissue damage is induced experimentally; (2) pain evoked by tissue-damaging procedures common to pig production; and (3) naturally occurring diseases or injuries. Taking into concern the global pork consumption as well as the fact that the pig is used increasingly as a model in biomedical research, the level of knowledge about porcine pain calls for targeted research in order to be able to protect pigs from the detrimental welfare consequences of this negative affective state.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Pig Welfare
EditorsIrene Camerlink, Emma Baxter
Number of pages26
PublisherWoodhead Publishing
Publication dateOct 2023
Edition2
Pages23-48
Chapter2
ISBN (Print)9780323856768
ISBN (Electronic)9780323915731
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023
SeriesWoodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition

Keywords

  • Animal model
  • Animal welfare
  • Behaviour
  • Experimental animals
  • Farm animals
  • Indicators
  • Pain
  • Pigs

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