The effect of post-calving pain management with carprofen on stress, reproduction, and milk yield in cattle

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in postpartum cattle has the potential to be a viable way to improve productivity and reproduction, although further research is necessary to optimise recommendations for producers. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of carprofen on dairy cows using a number of different indices including stress, reproduction, and milk yield data. The experiment was carried out on 100 first-lactation dairy cows. The animals were divided into two groups. The treatment group (TG, n = 50) was given a subcutaneous injection of Rimadyl Cattle® (50 mg/ml of carprofen) up to one hour after calving. At the same time, the control group (CG, n = 50) was given an injection of 0.9% NaCl. Blood tests were taken 2, 24, and 48 h after calving and tested using the fluorescence enzyme immunoassay method for cortisol analysis. At 305 days, the total milk yield was recorded for each cow. A computerised herd management program was used for data registration and analysis. Pregnancy was tested by ultrasound between 30 and 35 days after insemination. A subcutaneous injection of carprofen (1.4 mg per 1 kg of body weight) given one hour after parturition in first-lactation cows reduced the level of cortisol within 48 h after calving. During lactation (305 days in milk), the intervention increased the milk yield (252 kg) and pregnancy rates (8.5%), reduced the calving interval (43 days), and decreased the somatic cell count during the second, third, and fourth months after calving.

Early postpartum treatment with carprofen in a dairy herd with high incidence of clinical metritis – a case study

“…These results are in agreement with other studies that have evaluated reproductive performance after NSAID administration (Carpenter et al 2016;Meier et al 2014;Richards et al 2009). In contrast, our results differ with the findings by Antanaitis et al (2018) and Giammarco et al (2018) that report an 8.5% increase of pregnancy rate and a 25% increase of the pregnancy rate to first service after NSAID administration. These contradictory results could be explained by the estrus synchronization protocol regularly used in this farm.…”

“…Moreover, only few studies have reported an improvement in health and longevity after administration of NSAID in the early postpartum. Recently, Antanaitis et al (2018) observed a decrease in the incidence of retained placenta (66.7%), puerperal metritis (66.7%) and clinical mastitis (100%) in primiparous cows treated with a single dose of carprofen. Similarly, Shock et al (2018) and Giammarco et al (2018) reported a decrease in the risk of early culling after the administration of meloxicam or either carprofen/flunixin meglumine, respectively.…”

A Comparative Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Oral and Subcutaneous Meloxicam Administered to Postpartum Dairy Cows

“…While medication of healthy animals is difficult to justify, there is mounting evidence that parturition is painful in cattle [26,27]. The use of NSAID products in cows following calving has promoted greater intakes [28], alterations in activity level [10], higher milk production [29,30], lower somatic cell counts [26], and culling rates [30] in immediate post-partum period. Given the increased public scrutiny faced by the industry over issues of animal welfare [31], there may come a time when pain control is given to every cow following parturition.…”

A review of factors affecting the welfare of weaned replacement heifers in pasture-based dairy production systems

“…Post-parturition inflammation and pain is ameliorated through the administration of an NSAID in the hours after birth (e.g. meloxicam or carprofen), resulting in increased feed intake, milk production and subsequent reproduction, while reducing mastitis, metritis and voluntary culling in barn-housed cows and heifers (Stilwell et al 2014;Antanaitis et al 2018;Shock et al 2018). There are few data on the prevalence of pain mitigation strategies for dystocia in dairy cattle.…”