Effect of Lignocaine and a Topical Vapocoolant Spray on Pain Response during Surgical Castration of Beef Calves.

Dominique Van Der Saag,Evelyn Hall,Peter John White,Sabrina Lomax,Peter Andrew Windsor

doi:10.3390/ani9040126

Dominique Van Der Saag, Evelyn Hall + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9040126

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Abstract

Simple SummaryEnsuring a good state of welfare in farm animals is important for ethical reasons and sustainability of livestock industries. Addressing pain in farm animals during and following surgical husbandry procedures is a significant component of animal welfare. Until recently, practical constraints associated with delivery of traditional forms of analgesia have prevented widespread uptake by producers, especially in large, extensively managed animal production systems. In recent years, novel anaesthetic and analgesic products have been developed to facilitate practical delivery of post-operative pain relief to livestock. However, the issue of intra-operative pain during husbandry procedures remains unaddressed. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of pre-operative injected lignocaine and peri-operative topical vapocoolant spray, administered as most practical for incorporation into routine procedures, for pain relief during castration of calves. Results from this study provide no evidence that lignocaine or vapocoolant spray reduced pain during castration of calves. Pulling of the spermatic cords appeared to be the most painful component of the castration procedure. This finding may assist in clarifying what methods for relieving procedural pain associated with castration of calves merit future research.This study assessed the efficacy of pre-operative injected lignocaine and peri-operative topical vapocoolant spray, administered as most practical for incorporation into routine calf castration procedures. Calves were randomly allocated to: (1) sham castration (SHAM); (2) surgical castration (CAST); (3) surgical castration with lignocaine (LIG); and (4) surgical castration with vapocoolant spray (VAPO). Calf behavioural responses were scored at different stages of the sham castration or castration procedure. Maximum ocular temperatures were measured at three time-points relative to restraint and treatment. There were significant effects of treatment (p < 0.001) and stage of procedure (p < 0.001) on calf behavioural response. SHAM calves were more likely to display less severe responses compared to all other calves and LIG calves were more likely to display less severe responses compared to VAPO calves. Calves were more likely to display more severe responses to extrusion of the first spermatic cord compared to all other stages of castration, and to extrusion of the second spermatic cord compared to severing of the second spermatic cord. There was a significant effect of time (p < 0.001) on ocular temperature, with ocular temperature being greater following sham castration or castration. In this study, there was no evidence of pain reduction during castration of calves by either lignocaine or vapocoolant spray.

Highlights

Castration of beef cattle is performed to prevent unwanted breeding, improve meat quality and reduce aggressive behaviour
This study investigated the use of a topical vapocoolant spray to provide local anaesthesia during surgical castration of calves, with results suggesting it is not an adequate form of pain relief for such a procedure
The results of the current study showed that vapocoolant spray applied for 3 s to the scrotum and each spermatic cord during surgical castration of beef calves did not reduce behavioural responses of the animals to the procedure

Summary

Introduction

Castration of beef cattle is performed to prevent unwanted breeding, improve meat quality and reduce aggressive behaviour. For large commercial beef operations in northern Australia, time associated with additional animal handling is a major constraint to the use of traditional forms of anaesthesia and analgesia [2]. Advancements to post-operative pain relief for calves undergoing castration have been demonstrated through the development of practically administered analgesic products, such as a topical anaesthetic, Tri-Solfen® OTM (Troy Laboratories Australia Pty Ltd, Glendenning, NSW, Australia). Such products can be quickly and administered by producers whilst calves are in a race, crush or cradle [3,4,5,6]. Practical options to address intra-operative pain associated with surgical castration are lacking

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