A meta-analysis of cortisol concentration, vocalization, and average daily gain associated with castration in beef cattle

Canozzi, Maria Eugênia Andrighetto; Mederos, A.; Manteca, Xavier; Turner, Simon P.; McManus, Concepta; Zago, Daniele; Barcellos, Júlio Otávio Jardim

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.07.014

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…As goats from the unweaned group (mainly males) were kept in the herd longer than only seven months described in this article and they were not intended for breeding, they were castrated to reduce aggression and nasty smell. However, castration of individuals from only one group is unlikely to have biased the results of our study, as surgical neutering has been shown not to have any short-term effect on the body weight gain of males, especially if performed with proper pain mitigation [32], just like it was done in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Immediately-After-Birth Weaning on the Development of Goat Kids Born to Small Ruminant Lentivirus-Positive Dams

Nalbert

Czopowicz

Szaluś‐Jordanow

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple SummaryCaprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is one of the most important and devastating viral diseases of small ruminants in developed countries. The disease spreads easily from one goat to another, and neither curative therapy nor preventive vaccinations exist to break the chain of infections. Hence, the only way to suppress the epidemic in a herd is to identify and cull infected goats. However, it is both costly and cruel as most of them remain apparently healthy for many months or even years, yet they constantly shed the virus. Therefore, many farmers decide to wean kids away from their infected mothers as soon as they are born and keep them in separation, feeding them on bovine or artificial colostrum and milk. Even though this approach is quite effective, it may be recommended only if it has no negative impact on kids’ development. Therefore, we conducted the study which compared the development of kids weaned immediately after birth and kids kept with mothers. We showed that early weaning did not seem to have any detrimental effect on kids’ health. On this basis, we conclude that this procedure may be an advisable alternative for those farmers who cannot afford to implement radical eradication program in their herds.AbstractA longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the influence of two different rearing systems of young kids on their development to sexual maturity. Kids born to small ruminant lentiviruses-infected (SRLV) female goats were split into two groups: the immediately-after-birth weaned group and the unweaned group. Kids’ body weight (BWT) was measured before the first consumption of colostrum, and then at the age of one week, and one, two, four, and seven months. The relationship between the rearing system and BWT at each age was investigated using mixed linear models adjusted for potential confounders. The mean BWT of kids of the immediately-after-birth weaned group was significantly lower at the age of one week, one month, and two months, and then the difference became insignificant. The mean daily body weight gain (DWG) was significantly lower in the immediately-after-birth weaned group during the whole first month of life, but then DWG in both groups became equal. Crude mortality rate did not differ significantly between groups. This study shows that weaning kids immediately after birth does not appear to have any negative impact on kids’ development except transient growth retardation, which is fully compensated until they reach sexual maturity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Immediately-After-Birth Weaning on the Development of Goat Kids Born to Small Ruminant Lentivirus-Positive Dams

Nalbert

Czopowicz

Szaluś‐Jordanow

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…Therefore, studies on animal development related to female reproductive function were not included. A search protocol was developed and each screening tool was adapted from forms applied in earlier studies (Mederos et al ., 2012; Canozzi et al ., 2017). The protocol was tested before being implemented.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnant cow nutrition and its effects on foetal weight – a meta-analysis

2019

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The prenatal development of cattle has influence on productive performance throughout postnatal life. The number of muscle and fat cells that the animal will have throughout its life is determined in the foetal stage and is influenced by nutrition of the pregnant cow. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of different energy levels (total digestible nutrient, TDN) and crude protein (CP) supplied to pregnant cows on foetal weight at 4 (FW4) and 8 months (FW8) and calf birth weight (CBW). Four studies and six trials involving 170 animals were assessed for FW4; four studies, four trials and 156 animals for FW8 and 48 studies, 125 trials and 9053 animals for CBW. High heterogeneity across studies was presented in FW4 (I2 = 94.4%), FW8 (I2 = 91.08%) and CBW (I2 = 96.9%). Dietary TDN and CP levels did not influence FW4. The FW8 was reduced by 2.24 kg when cows were fed 100% of their CP and TDN requirements (I2 = 0%), relative to those fed 70% of their requirements during the first and second trimesters. The CBW was reduced by 0.45 kg (I2 = 96.9%) when cows were fed 130% of their CP requirements relative to other dietary CP levels. When cows were fed 140% of their TDN requirements, CBW decreased by 2.71 kg (I2 = 98.3%) relative to other TDN levels. Dietary energy or CP levels fed above the requirements to pregnant cows restrict foetal development and CBW.

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“…Pain is an experience with inherent individual variation, and a much larger sample size is required in the future. In a recently published meta-analysis of studies investigating changes in cortisol concentration, vocalization and average daily gain associated with castration in beef cattle, the authors concluded that results of multiple studies were inconclusive to draw recommendations on preferred castration practices to minimize pain in beef cattle [ 7 ]. Furthermore, the majority of studies included in the meta-analysis (13 of 22) reported a sample size ≤50.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Objective assessments in this context are those that are measurable and consistent when different instruments are used to attain the measurement. For Bos indicus cattle undergoing castration, both objective and subjective assessments of pain and stress have been utilised [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Objective assessments of pain or inflammation include evaluation of changes in blood concentrations of circulating cortisol, haptoglobin, creatinine kinase, total protein, and packed cell volume, as well as nociceptive threshold testing, and changes in bodyweight and activity (using pedometry) [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective Measures for the Assessment of Post-Operative Pain in Bos indicus Bull Calves Following Castration

Musk

Jacobsen

Hyndman

et al. 2017

Animals

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Simple SummarySurgical castration of cattle is a common husbandry procedure, and although this procedure is known to cause pain in cattle and other species, in some countries it is often performed without anaesthesia or analgesia. Society is increasingly aware of this animal welfare issue and it is creating pressure to drive research into animal welfare science with the aim of identifying practical and economical approaches to pain management in livestock. To effectively manage pain, a pain assessment must be performed. Pain assessment methods are often subjective and therefore influenced by the observer. Ideally, objective assessments that generate consistent and repeatable results between observers should be identified. Bos indicus bull calves were divided into four groups: no castration (NC, n = 6); castration with pre-operative local anaesthetic (CL n = 12); castration with pre-operative anti-inflammatory medication (CM, n = 12); and, castration without pain relief (C, n = 12). A range of objective assessments was performed: bodyweight measurements, activity, and rest levels, and four different compounds in the blood. The results of this study suggest that animals rest for longer periods after the pre-operative administration of anti-inflammatory medication. The other objective assessments measured in this study were not able to consistently differentiate between treatment groups. These findings emphasise the need for alternative quantifiable and objective indicators of pain in Bos indicus bull calves.AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess pain in Bos indicus bull calves following surgical castration. Forty-two animals were randomised to four groups: no castration (NC, n = 6); castration with pre-operative lidocaine (CL, n = 12); castration with pre-operative meloxicam (CM, n = 12); and, castration alone (C, n = 12). Bodyweight was measured regularly and pedometers provided data on activity and rest from day −7 (7 days prior to surgery) to 13. Blood was collected for the measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and iron on days 0, 3 and 6. Bodyweight and pedometry data were analysed with a mixed effect model. The blood results were analysed with repeated measure one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). There was no treatment effect on bodyweight or activity. The duration of rest was greatest in the CM group and lowest in the C group. There was a significant increase in the concentrations of SAA, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen in all of the groups from day 0 to 3. Iron concentrations were not different at the time points it was measured. The results of this study suggest that animals rest for longer periods after the pre-operative administration of meloxicam. The other objective assessments measured in this study were not able to consistently differentiate between treatment groups.

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A meta-analysis of cortisol concentration, vocalization, and average daily gain associated with castration in beef cattle

Cited by 28 publications

References 56 publications

Effect of Immediately-After-Birth Weaning on the Development of Goat Kids Born to Small Ruminant Lentivirus-Positive Dams

Effect of Immediately-After-Birth Weaning on the Development of Goat Kids Born to Small Ruminant Lentivirus-Positive Dams

Pregnant cow nutrition and its effects on foetal weight – a meta-analysis

Objective Measures for the Assessment of Post-Operative Pain in Bos indicus Bull Calves Following Castration

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