Horns in cattle - KOBRA - Universität Kassel
Horns in cattle - KOBRA - Universität Kassel
Horns in cattle - KOBRA - Universität Kassel
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(<strong>in</strong>jected <strong>in</strong>trajugularly 15 to 20 m<strong>in</strong>utes before scoop disbudd<strong>in</strong>g) did not<br />
significantly reduce the <strong>in</strong>itial peak <strong>in</strong> plasma cortisol concentration dur<strong>in</strong>g the first 1<br />
to 3 hours after disbudd<strong>in</strong>g compared to animals disbudded without ketoprofen,<br />
whereas the plasma cortisol concentration returned earlier to pre-treatment levels at<br />
about 2 hours rather than 8 hours after disbudd<strong>in</strong>g (McMeekan et al., 1998b).<br />
However, <strong>in</strong> calves younger than 2 weeks and disbudded by hot iron, <strong>in</strong>tramuscular<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istration of ketoprofen <strong>in</strong> addition to lidoca<strong>in</strong>e produced a reduction <strong>in</strong> cortisol<br />
concentration already with<strong>in</strong> the first 3 hours after disbudd<strong>in</strong>g, but did not affect later<br />
cortisol responses up to 8 hours post disbudd<strong>in</strong>g compared to animals solely treated<br />
with lidoca<strong>in</strong>e (Milligan et al., 2004). The authors assume that the potentially<br />
beneficial effect of us<strong>in</strong>g a nonsteroidal anti-<strong>in</strong>flammatory drug <strong>in</strong>creases with the<br />
size of the horn buds removed, as the amount of tissue damage and postoperative<br />
<strong>in</strong>flammatory pa<strong>in</strong> should <strong>in</strong>crease accord<strong>in</strong>gly.<br />
2.6. Conclusions regard<strong>in</strong>g disbudd<strong>in</strong>g, dehorn<strong>in</strong>g and pa<strong>in</strong> alleviation<br />
While dehorn<strong>in</strong>g has markedly stronger negative welfare effects than disbudd<strong>in</strong>g, any<br />
method of disbudd<strong>in</strong>g/dehorn<strong>in</strong>g causes distress and pa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the treated animals,<br />
which should be alleviated as far as possible, preferably by a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of sedation<br />
(<strong>in</strong> animals not used to handl<strong>in</strong>g), local anaesthesia and anti-<strong>in</strong>flammatory treatment.<br />
Sedation allows an easier adm<strong>in</strong>istration of the local anaesthetic without major<br />
struggl<strong>in</strong>g, but might <strong>in</strong>terfere with control of anaesthesia efficacy. The comb<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
of a sedative, if necessary and local anaesthetic allows disbudd<strong>in</strong>g/dehorn<strong>in</strong>g without<br />
immediate pa<strong>in</strong> and stress response, and the addition of a non-steroidal anti<strong>in</strong>flammatory<br />
drug reduces the pa<strong>in</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the hours follow<strong>in</strong>g disbudd<strong>in</strong>g/dehorn<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Efficacy of local anaesthesia shall be <strong>in</strong>dividually controlled.<br />
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