Dehorning (DH) of calves is a common procedure
on commercial dairy farms. Pain management of calves
has been investigated in several studies. It is generally
accepted that the use of local anesthesia before DH is
essential for pain management. Postoperative inflammatory
pain should be treated by using a nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drug. The objective of this controlled,
randomized, and blinded clinical trial was to determine
the effects of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
flunixin meglumine before DH on cortisol concentrations
in sera of 5- to 9-wk old calves. Furthermore,
selected behavioral characteristics and heart and respiratory
rate were examined to assess pain in the hours
after dehorning. A total of 80 calves were allocated to
4 groups. In each of 20 replicates, 4 calves were randomly
assigned to the following groups: in 3 treatment
groups, calves received a local anesthetic (10 mL of
procain hydrochloride) and a first treatment (i.v.) with
flunixin meglumine or a placebo 20 min before hot-iron
dehorning, and a second treatment with flunixin meglumine
or a placebo (0.9% saline) 3 h after DH. Calves
in the control (CON) group were not dehorned and
did not receive any treatment. Groups received 2.2 mg
of flunixin meglumine/kg followed by a placebo (FP),
2.2 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg for both treatments
(FF), or a placebo for both treatments (PP). Blood
samples were collected from all calves, including CON
calves, 20 min before restraint in a headlock for DH, 2
min after DH, as well as 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8
h after DH. Samples were analyzed for concentration
of cortisol by enzyme immunoassay. It was found that
concentration of cortisol, calculated as area under the
curve, was greater in PP compared with FF and tended
to be greater compared with FP. Significant differences
between PP and FF were detected at 30 min and 2 h
after DH. Throughout the observation period, cortisol
concentrations were in both flunixin meglumine-treated
groups at a similar level as in the CON group. The heart and respiratory rates showed neither difference
between the CON group and the 3 dehorned groups nor
between the treatment groups.
Dehorning (DH) of calves is a common procedureon commercial dairy farms. Pain management of calveshas been investigated in several studies. It is generallyaccepted that the use of local anesthesia before DH isessential for pain management. Postoperative inflammatorypain should be treated by using a nonsteroidalantiinflammatory drug. The objective of this controlled,randomized, and blinded clinical trial was to determinethe effects of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugflunixin meglumine before DH on cortisol concentrationsin sera of 5- to 9-wk old calves. Furthermore,selected behavioral characteristics and heart and respiratoryrate were examined to assess pain in the hoursafter dehorning. A total of 80 calves were allocated to4 groups. In each of 20 replicates, 4 calves were randomlyassigned to the following groups: in 3 treatmentgroups, calves received a local anesthetic (10 mL ofprocain hydrochloride) and a first treatment (i.v.) withflunixin meglumine or a placebo 20 min before hot-irondehorning, and a second treatment with flunixin meglumineor a placebo (0.9% saline) 3 h after DH. Calvesin the control (CON) group were not dehorned anddid not receive any treatment. Groups received 2.2 mgof flunixin meglumine/kg followed by a placebo (FP),2.2 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg for both treatments(FF), or a placebo for both treatments (PP). Bloodsamples were collected from all calves, including CONcalves, 20 min before restraint in a headlock for DH, 2min after DH, as well as 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8h after DH. Samples were analyzed for concentrationof cortisol by enzyme immunoassay. It was found thatconcentration of cortisol, calculated as area under thecurve, was greater in PP compared with FF and tendedto be greater compared with FP. Significant differencesbetween PP and FF were detected at 30 min and 2 hafter DH. Throughout the observation period, cortisolconcentrations were in both flunixin meglumine-treatedgroups at a similar level as in the CON group. The heart and respiratory rates showed neither differencebetween the CON group and the 3 dehorned groups norbetween the treatment groups.
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