Wound healing and pain sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves

Drwencke, A.; Adcock, Sarah; Tucker, Cassandra B.

doi:10.3168/jds.2023-23238

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 45 publications

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“…Additionally, our study showed that 1 hour after dehorning, the DC group had a considerably larger number of lying-standing transitions than the DI group. This suggests that although cauterization results in a painful experience that is more rapid but shorter-lived, the application of dehorning cream leads to a longer-lasting and slower ( 40 ). Prior research has indicated that dehorning causes calves to exhibit increased head-scratching, head-shaking, and ear-flicking behaviors, which eventually revert to their pre-dehorning levels ( 41 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-dimensional evaluation of pain response in low day-age calves to two types of dehorning

Cui,

Liu,

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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IntroductionDehorning calves is necessary to minimize injury because intensive raising circumstances make horned cows more aggressive. However, acute pain is commonly perceived by farm animals when undergoing painful practices such as dehorning, affecting their health status and quality of life. By quantifying the magnitude of pain and discomfort associated with dehorning, we aim to contribute to a more humane and sustainable cattle farming industry.MethodsThe objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral, physiological, and emotional effects of acute dehorning pain in calves using two methods: dehorning cream and dehorning hot-iron.30 Holstein calves aged 4 days were selected for the study. These calves were randomly assigned to two experimental groups based on the method of disbudding: dehorning cream (n = 15) and hot-iron dehorning (n = 15). Before and after dehorning, we evaluated their physiological indicators of infrared eye temperature, concentrations of substance P, IL-6, cortisol, haptoglobin, as well as emotional state, and pain-related behavioral reactions.ResultsPost-dehorning, the duration of lying down decreased significantly in both groups (DI and DC: 0–4 h) after dehorning (p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited increased frequencies of pain-related behaviors such as head shaking (DI: 1–7 h, DC: 1–6 h), ear flicking (DI: 2–7 h, DC: 2–7 h), head scratching (DI: 2–3 h, DC: 1–7 h), and top scuffing (DI: 2 h, DC: 2–7 h) compared to pre-dehorning (p < 0.05). The DC group demonstrated a higher frequency of head-shaking, ear-flicking, head-scratching, and top-rubbing behaviors, along with a longer duration of lying down (0–4 h), compared to the DI group (p < 0.05). Post-dehorning, play behavior reduced significantly in both groups (6–8 h) (p < 0.05), whereas judgment bias and fear levels showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Physiological measures including eye temperature, and blood levels of substance P and IL-6, did not differ significantly between the groups before and after dehorning (p > 0.05). However, 48 h after dehorning, calves in the DC group had significantly higher haptoglobin levels compared to the DI group (p = 0.015). Additionally, salivary cortisol levels in the DC group increased significantly at 3.5 h and 7 h post-dehorning (p = 0.018, p = 0.043).DiscussionBoth hot-iron and cream dehorning induced pain in calves, as evidenced by increased pain-related behaviors, elevated salivary cortisol, and higher haptoglobin levels, alongside reduced positive behaviors. Notably, these effects were more pronounced in the DC group than in the DI group, suggesting that dehorning hot-iron may be a comparatively less stressful dehorning method for young calves. Moreover, the brief duration of pain response and weaker response to dehorning observed in 13-day-age calves in this study suggests that dehorning at younger ages may be more advisable and warrants further research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-dimensional evaluation of pain response in low day-age calves to two types of dehorning

Cui,

Liu,

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Effect of repeated HPA axis stimulation on hair cortisol concentration, growth, and behavior in preweaned dairy cattle

Kern,

Jorgensen,

Boerman

et al. 2024

Journal of Animal Science

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The study objective was to investigate the effect of repeated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation using synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) intramuscular injections on hair cortisol concentration, growth, and behavior in preweaned dairy calves. Twenty-seven Holstein calves were assigned to nine triads (based on sex and birth order) and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control (CON; 2 mL saline weekly); 2) moderate (MOD; alternating Cosyntropin [2 mcg/kg body weight (BW)] and saline weekly); or 3) frequent (FREQ; Cosyntropin [2 mcg/kg BW] weekly). Calves received their first injection on study day 0 (7±1 d of age). Hair was collected from the tail switch between days -5 and -3 (baseline), 21, and 49 and analyzed for cortisol concentration. To verify the endogenous cortisol release by Cosyntropin during the treatment period, saliva was collected on days 0, 14, 28, and 42 before injection and every 15 min for 2 h after injection for analysis of salivary cortisol concentration. Calves were fitted with accelerometers to continuously monitor lying time, number of lying bouts, and lying bout duration throughout the study. Growth measures (BW, hip height, hip width) were recorded weekly. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (SAS, Version 9.4), and models included the fixed effects of treatment, time (min or study day), and interaction between treatment and time. Temperature humidity index was included as a continuous covariate in all models. We observed a treatment × min interaction (P < 0.0001), whereby salivary cortisol concentration was lower in CON calves compared to MOD and FREQ calves 15 to 120 min post injection. While hair cortisol concentration was not influenced by treatment, concentration decreased from day 21 (1.28±0.03 ng/mL) to 49 (0.93±0.03 ng/mL). Average body weight was similar across treatments (CON [59.4±1.09 kg], MOD [58.6±0.98 kg], and FREQ [57.6±0.96 kg]; P=0.50). There was no evidence to suggest a difference in average daily lying time (CON [18.5±0.23 h/d], MOD [18.6±0.23 h/d], and FREQ [18.5±0.23 h/d]; P=0.99). These results suggest that repeated HPA axis stimulation through Cosyntropin administration increased salivary cortisol concentration, but did not influence hair cortisol concentration, growth, or behavior in preweaned dairy calves.

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Behavioral changes in the first 3 weeks after disbudding in dairy calves

Adcock

Downey

Owens

et al. 2023

Journal of Dairy Science

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Wound healing and pain sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves

Cited by 7 publications

References 45 publications

Multi-dimensional evaluation of pain response in low day-age calves to two types of dehorning

Multi-dimensional evaluation of pain response in low day-age calves to two types of dehorning

Effect of repeated HPA axis stimulation on hair cortisol concentration, growth, and behavior in preweaned dairy cattle

Behavioral changes in the first 3 weeks after disbudding in dairy calves

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