Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T05:15:22.609Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Study investigating the attitudes and opinions of cattle farmers and veterinarians in the UK on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for post-disbudding analgesia of calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

SYN Hambleton  and
TJ Gibson
SYN Hambleton
Affiliation:
Aran Vet Clinic, Llangefni, Gwynedd LL77 7XA, UK Department of Pathobiology and Population Science, Animal Welfare Science and Ethics group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
TJ Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology and Population Science, Animal Welfare Science and Ethics group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The study examined cattle farmers' and veterinarians' opinions of pain-induced distress associated with disbudding and attitudes towards non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). An emphasis was placed on investigating pain perception, veterinary-client communication and factors influencing analgesic use. Data were collected from an online questionnaire, links to which were published in professional periodicals, promoted by industry organisations and distributed on private practice mailing lists. A total of 110 veterinarians and 116 farmers who regularly disbud calves completed the questionnaires. Of the respondents, 56% of veterinarians and 14% of farmers routinely use NSAIDs for disbudding. Respondents perceived disbudding to be severely painful without medication and 82% of veterinarians and 43% of farmers perceived post-procedural pain to persist beyond 24 h. There was a significant difference between female and male veterinarians' pain scores for disbudding without medication. Veterinarians underestimate the influences of welfare and analgesic duration and effectiveness on farmers' decisions and overrated cost impact. The study highlights that improvements in veterinarian-farmer communication regarding calf disbudding analgesia are required; both in terms of refining veterinarians' understanding of farmers' priorities and guiding clients on methods to improve calf welfare.

Keywords

analgesiaanimal welfarecalvesdisbuddingnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)veterinarian and farmer
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , August 2017 , pp. 323 - 334
Copyright
© 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Ajzen, I 1991 The Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 50: 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-TCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, KA, Coetzee, JF, Edwards-Callaway, LN, Glynn, H, Dockweiler, J, KuKanich, B, Lin, H, Wang, C, Fraccaro, E, Jones, M and Bergamasco, L 2013 The effect of timing of oral meloxicam administration on physiological responses in calves after cautery dehorning with local anesthesia. Journal of Dairy Science 96: 5194–5205CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barrett, DC 2004 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cat-tle - should we use them more? Cattle Practice 12: 69–73Google Scholar
Brenneman, RA, Davis, SK, Sanders, JO, Burns, BM, Wheeler, TC, Turner, JW and Taylor, JF 1996 The polled locus maps to BTA1 in a Bos indicus × Bos taurus cross. Journal of Heredity 87: 156–161. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxford journals.jhered.a022975CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capner, CA, Lascelles, BDX and Waterman-Pearson, AE 1999 Current British veterinary attitudes to perioperative analge-sia for dogs. Veterinary Record 145: 95–99. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.145.4.95CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coetzee, JF, Mosher, RA, KuKanich, B, Gehring, R, Robert, B, Reinbold, JB and White, BJ 2012 Pharmacokinetics and effect of intravenous meloxicam in weaned Holstein calves following scoop dehorning without local anesthesia. BMC Veterinary Research 8: 153CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cozzi, G, Gottardo, F, Brscic, M, Contiero, B, Irrgang, N, Knierim, U, Pentelescu, O, Windig, JJ, Mirabito, L, Kling Eveillard, F, Dockes, AC, Veissier, I, Velarde, A, Fuentes, C, Dalmau, A and Winckler, C 2015 Dehorning of cattle in the EU Member States: A quantitative survey of the current practices. Livestock Science 179: 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.05.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DEFRA 2003 Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Cattle (PB7949), Section 2 - Calf rearing, Disbudding and dehorning. DEFRA: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Doherty, TJ, Kattesh, HG, Adcock, RJ, Welborn, MG, Saxton, AM, Morrow, JL and Dailey, JW 2007 Effects of a con-centrated lidocaine solution on the acute phase stress response to dehorning in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 90: 4232–4239. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0080CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dohoo, SE and Dohoo, IR 1996a Factors influencing the postop-erative use of analgesics in dogs and cats by Canadian veterinarians. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 37: 552–556Google Scholar
Dohoo, SE and Dohoo, IR 1996b Postoperative use of anal-gesics in dogs and cats by Canadian veterinarians. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 37: 546–551Google ScholarPubMed
Duffield, TF, Heinrich, A, Millman, ST, DeHaan, A, James, S and Lissemore, K 2010 Reduction in pain response by combined use of local lidocaine anesthesia and systemic ketoprofen in dairy calves dehorned by heat cauterization. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 51: 283–288Google ScholarPubMed
Earley, B and Crowe, MA 2002 Effects of ketoprofen alone or in combination with local anesthesia during the castration of bull calves on plasma cortisol, immunological, and inflammatory responses. Journal of Animal Science 80: 1044–1052. https://doi.org/10.2527/2002.8041044xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
European Commission 2010 Commission Regulation EU (European Union) No 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmaco-logically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin. Table of Allowed Substances. EC: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Faulkner, PM and Weary, DM 2000 Reducing pain after dehorning in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 83: 2037–2041. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)75084-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fitzpatrick, JL, Nolan, AM, Scott, EM, Harkins, LS and Barret, DC 2002 Observers perceptions of pain in cattle. Cattle Practice 10: 209–212Google Scholar
Georges, M, Drinkwater, R, King, T, Mishra, A, Moore, SS, Nielsen, D, Sargeant, LS, Sorensen, A, Steele, MR, Zhao, XY, Womack, JE and Hetzel, J 1993 Microsatellite mapping of a gene affecting horn development in Bos taurus. Nature Genetics 4:206–210. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0693-206CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibson, TJ, Johnson, CB, Stafford, KJ, Mitchinson, SL and Mellor, DJ 2007 Validation of the acute electroencephalographic responses of calves to noxious stimulus with scoop dehorning. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 55: 152–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2007.36760CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godin, G and Kok, G 1996 The theory of planned behavior: A review of its applications to health-related behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion 11: 87–98. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-11.2.87CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gottardo, F, Nalon, E, Contiero, B, Normando, S, Dalvit, P and Cozzi, G 2011 The dehorning of dairy calves: Practices and opinions of 639 farmers. Journal of Dairy Science 94: 5724–5734. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4443CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graf, B and Senn, M 1999 Behavioural and physiological responses of calves to dehorning by heat cauterization with or without local anaesthesia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 62:153–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(98)00218-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grondahl-Nielsen, C, Simonsen, HB, Lund, JD and Hesselholt, M 1999 Behavioural, endocrine and cardiac respons-es in young calves undergoing dehorning without and with use of sedation and analgesia. The Veterinary Journal 158: 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.1998.0284CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heinrich, A, Duffield, TF, Lissemore, KD and Millman, ST 2010 The effect of meloxicam on behavior and pain sensitivity of dairy calves following cautery dehorning with a local anesthetic. Journal of Dairy Science 93: 2450–2457. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2813CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heinrich, A, Duffield, TF, Lissemore, KD, Squires, EJ and Millman, ST 2009 The impact of meloxicam on postsurgical stress associated with cautery dehorning. Journal of Dairy Science 92: 540–547. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1424CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hewson, CJ, Dohoo, IR, Lemke, KA and Barkema, HW 2007 Factors affecting Canadian veterinarians' use of analgesics when dehorning beef and dairy calves. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 48: 1129–1136Google ScholarPubMed
Hjermstad MJ, Fayers PM, Haugen DF, Caraceni A, Hanks GW, Loge JH, Fainsinger R, Aass N, Kaasa S and European Palliative Care Research 2011 Studies comparing Numerical Rating Scales, Verbal Rating Scales, and Visual Analogue Scales for assessment of pain intensity in adults: a sys-tematic literature review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 41: 1073–1093CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoe, FGH and Ruegg, PL 2006 Opinions and practices of Wisconsin dairy producers about biosecurity and animal well-being. Journal of Dairy Science 89: 2297–2308. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72301-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hokkanen, AH, Wikman, I, Korhonen, T, Pastell, M, Valros, A, Vainio, O and Hanninen, L 2015 Perceptions and practices of Finnish dairy producers on disbudding pain in calves. Journal of Dairy Science 98: 823–831. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7668CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hudson, C, Whay, H and Huxley, J 2008 Recognition and man-agement of pain in cattle. In Practice 30: 126–134. https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.30.3.126CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huxley, JN and Whay, HR 2006 Current attitudes of cattle practitioners to pain and the use of analgesics in cattle. Veterinary Record 159: 662–668. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.159.20.662CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huxley, JN and Whay, HR 2007 Attitudes of UK veterinary surgeons and cattle farmers to pain and the use of analgesics in cat-tle. Cattle Practice 15: 189–193Google Scholar
Jensen, MP, Turner, JA and Romano, JM 1994 What is the maximum number of levels needed in pain intensity measure-ment? Pain 58: 387–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(94)90133-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kling-Eveillard, F, Knierim, U, Irrgang, N, Gottardo, F, Ricci, R and Dockès, AC 2015 Attitudes of farmers towards cattle dehorning. Livestock Science 179: 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.05.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krebs, EE, Carey, TS and Weinberger, M 2007 Accuracy of the pain numeric rating scale as a screening test in primary care. Journal of Genernal Internal Medicine 22: 1453–1458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0321-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kristensen, E and Enevoldsen, C 2008 A mixed methods inquiry: How dairy farmers perceive the value(s) of their involvement in an intensive dairy herd health management program. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 50. http://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-50-50CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lascelles, BDX, Capner, CA and Waterman-Pearson, AE 1999 Current British veterinary attitudes to perioperative analge-sia for cats and small mammals. Veterinary Record 145: 601–604. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.145.21.601CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lorena, SERS, Luna, SPL, Lascelles, BDX and Corrente, JE 2013 Attitude of Brazilian veterinarians in the recognition and treatment of pain in horses and cattle. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 40: 410–418. https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12025CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McMeekan, CM, Stafford, KJ, Mellor, DJ, Bruce, RA, Ward, RN and Gregory, NG 1998 Effects of regional analgesia and/or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic on the acute cortisol response to dehorning in calves. Research in Veterinary Science 64:147–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-5288(98)90010-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Misch, LJ, Duffield, TF, Millman, ST and Lissemore, KD 2007 An investigation into the practices of dairy producers and veteri-narians in dehorning dairy calves in Ontario. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 48: 1249–1254Google ScholarPubMed
NOAH 2015 Compendium of data sheets for animal medicines. National Office of Animal Health pp 158–159. Polestar Wheatons Ltd: Exeter, UKGoogle Scholar
Norring, M, Wikman, I, Hokkanen, AHK and Hänninen, L 2014 Empathic veterinarians score cattle pain higher. The Veterinary Journal 200(1): 186-190CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petrie, NJ, Mellor, DJ, Stafford, KJ, Bruce, RA and Ward, RN 1996 Cortisol responses of calves to two methods of disbudding used with or without local anaesthetic. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 44(1): 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1996.35924CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RCVS 2017 Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, 4. Veterinary medicines. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/advice-and-guid-ance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/sup-porting-guidance/veterinary-medicines/Google Scholar
Stafford, KJ and Mellor, DJ 2005 Dehorning and disbudding dis-tress and its alleviation in calves. The Veterinary Journal 169: 337–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.02.005CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stafford, KJ and Mellor, DJ 2011 Addressing the pain associat-ed with disbudding and dehorning in cattle. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 135: 226–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applan-im.2011.10.018CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stafford, KJ, Mellor, DJ, Todd, SE, Ward, RN and McMeekan, CM 2003 The effect of different combinations of lig-nocaine, ketoprofen, xylazine and tolazoline on the acute cortisol response to dehorning in calves. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 51: 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2003.36370CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stewart, M, Stafford, KJ, Dowling, SK, Schaefer, AL and Webster, JR 2008 Eye temperature and heart rate variability of calves disbudded with or without local anaesthetic. Physiology & Behavior 93: 789–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.11.044CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stewart, M, Stookey, JM, Stafford, KJ, Tucker, CB, Rogers, AR, Dowling, SK, Verkerk, GA, Schaefer, AL and Webster, JR 2009 Effects of local anesthetic and a nonsteroidal antiinflam-matory drug on pain responses of dairy calves to hot-iron dehorning. Journal of Dairy Science 92: 1512–1519. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1578CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stilwell, G, Lima, MS, Carvalho, RC and Broom, DM 2012 Effects of hot-iron disbudding, using regional anaesthesia with and without carprofen, on cortisol and behaviour of calves. Research in Veterinary Science 92: 338–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.02.005CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutherland, MA, Mellor, DJ, Stafford, KJ, Gregory, NG, Bruce, RA and Ward, RN 2002 Effect of local anaesthetic com-bined with wound cauterisation on the cortisol response to dehorning in calves. Australian Veterinary Journal 80: 165–167. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2002.tb11385.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vasseur, E, Borderas, F, Cue, RI, Lefebvre, D, Pellerin, D, Rushen, J, Wade, KM and de Passillé, AM 2010 A survey of dairy calf management practices in Canada that affect animal wel-fare. Journal of Dairy Science 93: 1307–1315. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2429CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waran, N, Williams, VM, Clarke, N and Bridge, IS 2010 Recognition of pain and use of analgesia in horses by veterinarians in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 58: 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2010.69402CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Watts, SA and Clarke, KW 2000 A survey of bovine practition-ers attitudes to pain and analgesia in cattle. Cattle Practice 8: 361–362Google Scholar
Whay, HR and Huxley, JN 2005 Pain relief in cattle: A practitioner's perspective. Cattle Practice 13: 81–85Google Scholar
Wikman, I, Hokkanen, AH, Pastell, M, Kauppinen, T, Valros, A and Hanninen, L 2013 Dairy producer attitudes to pain in cat-tle in relation to disbudding calves. Journal of Dairy Science 96:6894–6903. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-6128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wikman, I, Hokkanen, AH, Pastell, M, Kauppinen, T, Valros, A and Hanninen, L 2016 Attitudes of beef producers to disbud-ding and perception of pain in cattle. Animal Welfare 25: 429–438. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.25.4.429CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williamson, A and Hoggart, B 2005 Pain: a review of three commonly used pain rating scales. Journal of Clinical Nursing 14:798–804. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01121.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Windig, JJ, Hoving-Bolink, RA and Veerkamp, RF 2015 Breeding for polledness in Holstein cattle. Livestock Science 179:96–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.05.021CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Hambleton et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 348.8 KB