Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Attitudes to Pain in Pasture-Based Dairy Cows: A Comparative Study of Farmers and Veterinarians

Abstract

Pain is a significant welfare concern within the dairy industry. Recognizing and managing pain are important factors for safeguarding animal welfare. A questionnaire was sent via post to Irish dairy farmers and large animal veterinarians to assess attitudes to pain and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in pasture-based dairy cows. The questionnaire could also be completed online. A total of 1,002 surveys were received from dairy farmers and 116 from livestock veterinarians. Veterinarians and farmers generally perceived the same conditions and procedures as the most painful. However, farmers scored surgical procedures significantly higher than veterinarians, and veterinarians scored lameness-related conditions, mastitis (clots in milk only) and hock hair loss significantly higher than farmers. Higher pain scores for conditions and procedures given by dairy farmers and veterinarians were associated with increased NSAID use. However, the use of NSAIDs was low, relative to the pain score, for Burdizzo castration (farmers and veterinarians), white line separation (farmers and veterinarians) and abscess (veterinarians), mastitis with clots in milk only (farmers) and calving with no assistance (farmers). Veterinarians who graduated less recently had significantly lower odds of using NSAIDs, and farmers that completed the survey online, had a larger herd size, completed education up to level four or five (as opposed to level three) and those who seemed to have less knowledge on analgesics, had significantly lower odds of using NSAIDs. Empathy was not found to be associated with NSAID use and no correlation was found between pain and empathy scores. Veterinarians perceived cost as more of a barrier than farmers did; therefore, NSAIDs should be offered more readily. For those working with dairy cows, there is a need to continue education on the benefits of analgesia, especially for conditions and procedures that have low NSAID use relative to pain score. The habituation of humans to pain in animals needs to be prevented to enable pain to be recognized and managed appropriately. Pain scores can be used as a benchmark for veterinarians and farmers to determine how their perception of pain compares to others, and see how this may influence their NSAID use.

Improving analgesia provision for sheep: An analysis of farm medicine records and attitudes towards pain relief on sheep farms in Northern Ireland

“…3,4 The importance of adequate analgesia has been recognised and is enshrined in legislation in many countries. 4 The management of pain in livestock continues to come under increasing scrutiny from the public 2,4,5 ; additionally, painful conditions, such as lameness, carry an economic cost to farmers. 6 However, before pain can be effectively managed, those caring for sheep need to recognise its presence and appreciate the need for pain to be treated promptly and appropriately.…”

“…16 For cattle, NSAIDs have proven practical to administer and efficacious in providing long-term analgesia when administered on-farm by the farmer. 5 However, there is evidence of underuse of these medicines in cattle and calls for further education to reinforce the benefits of timely analgesia. 5 Corticosteroids (CSs), such as dexamethasone, but not NSAIDs, have been used for their anti-inflammatory properties in a range of livestock species, including for provision of analgesia, despite potential side effects and limited evidence of clinical pain-relieving properties.…”

“…5 However, there is evidence of underuse of these medicines in cattle and calls for further education to reinforce the benefits of timely analgesia. 5 Corticosteroids (CSs), such as dexamethasone, but not NSAIDs, have been used for their anti-inflammatory properties in a range of livestock species, including for provision of analgesia, despite potential side effects and limited evidence of clinical pain-relieving properties. 17,18 Historically, evidence for any long-term therapeutic benefit of CS has been limited to specific circumstances, at least in cattle.…”

“…Calls have been made for novel approaches to the generation of the data necessary to prove the efficacy and safety of such products for use within the sheep sector 16 . For cattle, NSAIDs have proven practical to administer and efficacious in providing long‐term analgesia when administered on‐farm by the farmer 5 . However, there is evidence of underuse of these medicines in cattle and calls for further education to reinforce the benefits of timely analgesia 5 …”

Impact of Meloxicam Administration in Cows Prior to Caesarean Section on the Efficacy of Passive Immunity Transfer in Calves

“…Despite a lower sample size than expected (48 vs. 80) our findings demonstrate that an indirect positive impact of providing analgesia to cows can be expected on their own calves. This can be an additional argument to convince farmers and/or veterinary practitioners to routinely and systematically use NSAIDs in such situations [2,3,16].…”