Tail Docking Research Articles

Meat Inspection Decisions Regarding Pig Carcasses Affected by Osteomyelitis at the Slaughterhouse: From Etiopathogenesis to Total Condemnation Criteria

Osteomyelitis is a significant cause of total carcass condemnation in pigs at the slaughterhouse. The decision for total condemnation of a pig carcass for osteomyelitis is often based on traditional perceptions of the risk of pyaemia, leading to controversy among Official Veterinarians (OV) in the industry. This review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the etiopathogenesis of osteomyelitis in pigs, the microorganisms involved, and the risk factors. It also highlights the urgent need for a more uniform method to evaluate osteomyelitis cases, which could significantly reduce economic losses in the industry. Lesions originating from tail-biting, tail docking, castration, teeth resection, and raw management are described as risk factors for osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is caused by the entry of pathogens into the animal’s bloodstream through an open wound. Trueperella monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp. are the most described pathogens. At slaughter, OVs condemn carcasses with osteomyelitis due to pyaemia. Signs of acute disease are essential to identify pyaemia cases. In chronic cases, total carcass condemnation can be avoided depending on the number of lesions and vertebrae affected. A clear overall image of the problem would help authorities in various countries adopt a more homogenous approach.

PSVII-27 Nasal surface temperature variation before, during and after routine interventions

Abstract Routine practices such as teeth clipping (TEE), tail docking (TAI) and ear tagging (TAG) can be considered controversial due to the potential pain or stress they might cause. This study sought to evaluate how nasal surface temperature changes before, during and after each of these procedures (TEE, TAI, TAG) as performed routinely on a commercial farm. A total of 116 crossbred piglets (Landrace x Large white x Duroc Danish) from multiparous sows were used. As litters were processed, thermographic images were taken using a high-resolution handheld infrared camera FLIR T650sc (640 x 480 pixels; FLIR Systems, Wilsonville, OR) at a uniform distance of 1 m on the left side of the face. All thermal images were collected between 0900 and 1600 h. To assess procedures separately, a recovery period (12 ± 2.5 min) was allowed between procedures. Due to order differences in which procedures were implemented, the following study groups were created (procedures in brackets indicate the procedures performed prior to the procedure being assessed): TEE, (TEE+) TAI, (TEE+TAI+) TAG, TAI, (TAI+) TEE, (TAI+TEE+) TAG, TAG, (TAG+) TEE, (TAG+TEE+) TAI. Temperature values were recorded from images using FLIR Tools software 6.0 (FLIR Systems). GraphPad Prism 10.0.2 (San Diego, CA) statistical software was used to analyze the obtained data. All data were analyzed via a linear mixed model for repeated measures and Multiple comparisons were calculated using a post-hoc Tukey test (GraphPad Prism 10.0.2). There were no significant differences in Nasal surface temperature among groups at any time points (Table 1, P > 0.05). However, there was a significant reduction in temperature from before the procedure(s) to during and after the procedures in the TAG (P = 0.006) and the (TEE+) TAG (P < 0.001) groups. Changes in the surface temperature of piglets can be related to the sympathetic activity and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation during the perception of a stressor, which causes a sympathetically mediated acute vasomotor response that shifts cutaneous capillary blood flow due to transient peripheral vasoconstriction. Infrared thermography recognizes such blood flow changes as a reduction in the amount of heat radiated from the skin. Indeed, the nasal surface temperature was reduced in TAG and (TEE+) TAG piglets during and after the procedure(s) which suggests these procedure groups caused a greater degree of thermal change to the piglets. Furthermore, the results suggest that infrared thermography could be a useful tool to assess the impact of routine husbandry practices on piglet welfare. Nonetheless, further research should assess infrared thermography alongside behavioral and physiological assessments to establish the relationship between surface temperature and stress during husbandry procedures.

PSLBI-14 Assessment of the effective tissue concentrations of injectable lidocaine and a lidocaine-impregnated latex band for castration in calves and lambs

Abstract Tail docking in lambs and castration in lambs and calves are common husbandry practices, both of which cause pain and discomfort, for which many industries recommend or require pain management. The purpose of this study was to assess the effective tissue concentrations of the current standard of care for pain mitigation in calves and lambs during castration or tail docking (injectable lidocaine) and to assess the ability of a lidocaine-loaded elastration band (LLB) to deliver effective concentrations into the scrotal or tail tissues over time. This work comprised four different field trials (n = 50/trial): 1) effective concentrations of injectable lidocaine in the scrotal tissue of dairy calves; 2) the in vivo delivery of effective concentrations of lidocaine from LLBs placed on the calf scrotums; 3) effective concentrations of injectable lidocaine in the scrotal and tail tissue of lambs; and 4) the in vivo delivery of effective concentrations of lidocaine from LLBs placed on the lamb scrotums and tails. Sensation in the tissue of interest was assessed by electrocutaneous stimulation. Sensation was correlated to tissue concentrations of lidocaine by analyzing sampled tissue for lidocaine content by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Injectable lidocaine allowed for short-term anesthesia for up to 60 min calves, highlighting the importance of finding additional strategies to mitigate long-term pain. An effective concentration (EC) yielding 50% reduction in tissue sensation (EC50) of 0.635 (95% CI 0.462 to 0.829) mg/g was calculated for calf scrotal tissue. Based on HPLC data of processed biopsy samples taken over time, the LLBs yielded tissue concentartions of lidocaine that approached EC50 and exceeded EC95 at 2 and 72 h following application, respectively, and remained above those concentartions for at least 28 d after application. In lambs, injectable lidocaine allowed for short-term anesthesia for up to 180 min following injection. An EC50 of 0.174 (95% CI 0.125 to 0.248) mg/g was calculated for lamb scrotal tissue and an EC50 of 0.0765 (95% CI 0.0533 to 0.113) mg/g was calculated for lamb tail tissue. The use of the LLB provided tissue lidocaine concentrations that met or exceeded the EC50 for at least 21 to 28 d and, based on electrostimulation data, provided local anesthesia for at least 3 d when compared with a control band. The use of an LLB could provide a practical, long-duration alternative to injectable lidocaine for pain mitigation during castration and tail docking. Further studies are warranted to compare the use of LLBs to injectable local anesthetics.

471 The use of infrared imaging of piglets to assess ocular surface temperature change before, during and after routine procedures

Abstract Procedures including teeth clipping (TEE), tail docking (TAI), and ear tagging (TAG) are conducted routinely in commercial pig production units during the first days of life in piglets. However, as these procedures are conducted without anesthetics, there is controversy surrounding these procedures due to the pain/stress they may cause. The assessment of vasomotor activity using non-invasive infrared thermography (IRT) is increasingly being promoted as a tool to detect acute stress. The objective of this study was to assess changes in the ocular (OCU) window of piglets before, during and after each of the aforementioned procedures using IRT. This study used crossbred piglets (n = 116; Duroc Danish x Landrace x Large white) from multiparous sows. All thermographic images of piglets were taken between 0900 h and 1600 h using a high-resolution handheld infrared camera FLIR T650sc (640 x 480 pixels; FLIR Systems, Wilsonville, USA) at a uniform distance of 1 m on the left side of the face. To assess TEE, TAI and TAG procedures separately, a recovery period (12 ± 2.5 min) was allowed between procedures. Due to order differences in which procedures were conducted, the following study groups were created (procedures in brackets indicate the procedures performed prior to the focal procedure): TEE, (TEE+) TAI, (TEE+TAI+) TAG, TAI, (TAI+) TEE, (TAI+TEE+) TAG, TAG, (TAG+) TEE, (TAG+TEE+) TAI. Temperature values were recorded from images using FLIR Tools software 6.0 (FLIR Systems). Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model for repeated measures and multiple comparisons were calculated using a post-hoc Tukey test (GraphPad Prism 10.0.2). Table 1 shows the mean and standard deviation (SD) values for IRT recordings in the OCU window. Comparison of evaluation times showed a significant reduction in OCU temperature from before to after the procedure(s) in (TEE+) TAI (-1.21 °C, P < 0.001), (TAI+TEE+) TAG (-0.65 °C, P < 0.001), TAG (-0.58 °C, P < 0.05) and (TAG+TEE+) TAI (-0.3 °C, P < 0.01) groups. These changes in the OCU window of piglets may be in response to the procedures performed, resulting in a sympathetically mediated acute vasomotor response as cutaneous capillary blood flow shifts due to transient peripheral vasoconstriction. In turn, IRT detects this blood flow change as a reduction in surface temperature. Comparison between procedure groups found that mean OCU temperature during the procedure was greater (P = 0.01) in (TAI+) TEE and (TAG+) TEE than the rest of the groups, though the reason for this is unclear and requires further investigation. This work shows that IRT can be used as a non-invasive tool to detect surface temperature changes of piglets.

Prevalence of tail damage and ear lesions in docked and undocked pigs during trials to find alternatives to tail docking on Spanish commercial farms.

Tail docking is widely used to control tail biting in pigs, but it is a painful and stressful procedure. The impact of non-docking trials on tail damage (TD) and ear lesions (EL) from weaning to slaughter was assessed on four commercial farms. A total of 898 docked pigs (396 DP) or undocked pigs (502 UP) were assessed for tail damage and ear lesions at the beginning and end of the weaner stage, during fattening and at the abattoir during slaughter. The percentage of UP with shortened tails increased significantly from weaning to fattening, but the percentage of non-inflamed tails and tails without fresh lesions increased. In terms of severity of lesion, a lower percentage of pigs scored as 'no visible lesion' at the end of weaning compared to fattening, both for UP and DP (p<0.05). DP always had a lower percentage of TD, whereas UP had a lower percentage of EL at the end of weaning. It was not possible to statistically compare different preventive strategies trialed on farms as alternatives to docking. This study highlights that combining tail length and lesion score at slaughter could be a reliable on-farm welfare indicator.

Occurrence of tail docking and tail biting in weaner pigs—A preliminary study in Portuguese abattoirs

EU legislation forbids the systematic use of tail docking. Tail-biting is a welfare problem in swine production, including weaners. In Portugal, like in Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Serbia the transport of five-week-old pigs to the abattoir is a common practice. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of tail docking and tail-biting in weaners and associate it with the farm of origin/grouping centre and meat inspection results. Weaners were observed at 6 abattoirs in the Central Region of Portugal. Origin, docking status, tail lesions, and carcass condemnation were recorded during post-mortem inspection. A total of 15,863 weaners were assessed, 12.6 % came from assembly centres, 22 % with docked tails, 21.5 % with tail lesions, and 60 weaners were condemned. Tail-biting lesions were significantly associated with having an undocked tail. This association was stronger if the weaners came from intermediate assembly centres compared to weaners that came directly from the farm (AOR = 5.642, 95 %CI 2.885 to 11.030, P = 0.017 versus AOR = 1.403, 95 %CI 1.062 to 1.853, P < 0.001). The rate of carcass condemnations was higher among weaners presenting tail lesions (6.15 versus 3.13/1000 in weaners without tail lesion). The most frequent cause of condemnation was polyarthritis/purulent arthritis (1.6 per 1000 weaners). Our study shows that tail-docking is still practiced, and having the tails undocked is an additional vulnerability in what concerns tail-biting, especially in those weaners that do not go directly from the farm to the abattoir, with intermediate stops at assembly centres. New regulation is needed that takes into account this further deterioration in animal welfare.

Tail docking: a professional dilemma for veterinary nurses

Different groups hold strong opinions on tail docking in certain breeds. These range from veterinary organisations and welfare groups, who typically want the practice banned, to breeders and associations, who typically oppose any banning of the procedure. For veterinary nurses in practice faced with assisting with the tail docking procedure, numerous ethical and moral dilemmas present themselves and must be navigated. This article deals with a tail-docking scenario that can present in veterinary practice and looks at the legal, professional and ethical issues that arise and potential recommendations that could be implemented in the future.

Osteomyelitis in Pig Carcasses at a Portuguese Slaughterhouse: Association with Tail-Biting and Teeth Resection.

Osteomyelitis is the leading cause of total carcass condemnation in finishing pigs in Portugal, causing significant economic losses in swine production. The present study sought to determine a possible link between osteomyelitis in pig carcasses, pre-slaughter factors, and concomitant post-mortem inspection findings. For this purpose, meat inspection data were collected from 100,489 finishing pigs slaughtered in a northern Portuguese abattoir. Information regarding total carcass condemnation, slaughter season, origin, sex, tail-biting lesions, and husbandry invasive procedures (tail docking and teeth resection) was collected. The main cause of total carcass condemnation was osteomyelitis (61.03%). A total of 36.16% of osteomyelitis cases were present in the anterior region and 52.20% in the posterior region. In the anterior region, 94.78% of osteomyelitis cases were in the mandibular bone. Pigs with clipped teeth and carcasses with pleurisies were associated with a higher occurrence of osteomyelitis (p = 0.00262 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Second- and third-grade tail-biting lesions were also linked to a higher occurrence of osteomyelitis (p = 0.00128 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Slaughter inspection and monitoring procedures should be revised to better assess welfare factors and correlate management practices with the occurrence of osteomyelitis in pig carcasses.

Efficacy of a Lidocaine-Impregnated Elastrator Band for Castration and Tail Docking in Lambs.

The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the non-inferiority between lidocaine-impregnated ligation bands (LLBs) and control bands (CBs) with respect to the efficacy of castration and tail docking. Secondary objectives were to compare castration and tail-docking success, evaluate local site reactions, and compare average daily gain (ADG) between the treatment groups. A total of 238 male lambs were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive LLBs or CBs on their tail and scrotum. Lambs were weighed, had a health assessment, and the band site was observed on -3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after the bands were applied. A linear regression model was built to assess average daily gain, whereas a repeated measures model was used to evaluate body weight differences at each of the measured timepoints. Furthermore, logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations with casting outcomes. Few differences were noted between treatment groups with respect to casting success for the scrotum and tail and ADG over the entire experimental period. Non-inferiority calculations demonstrated no differences in tail docking and scrotal casting success, with casting occurring for the majority of animals by d 21 and d 42 for castration and tail docking, respectively. However, lambs receiving LLBs gained more weight from d -3 to 7 (+0.03 kg/d; 95% CI: 0 to 0.07), which may be an indication of effective pain control during the first week following band application. Overall, the use of an LLB does not affect the time to successful casting of the tail and could improve short-term growth when compared to a control band. Further studies are needed to compare LLBs to multimodal methods of pain relief.

77 Healing progression of tail docking and ear tag wound in lambs

Abstract Tail docking and ear tagging are common husbandry practices in lambs, but little is known about the healing process of the resulting wound. Additionally, evidence in other species shows that concurrent injurious procedures may delay wound healing. Thus, the objectives of this study were to 1) describe wound healing following tail docking and ear tagging, and 2) compare healing of ear tag wound in docked and undocked lambs. Within 28 Polypay female twin pairs, one lamb was docked by placing a constrictive rubber ring on the tail 24 to 48 h after birth and the tail of the other lamb was left intact (n = 28/treatment). Plastic-tipped ear tags were applied to both ears of all lambs immediately before tail docking. Wound photos of the ears and tail were taken twice weekly until weaning, resulting in 16 to 22 observations per lamb. Tail wound photos were analyzed to determine when the tail fell off and to score the presence of 6 tissue types: pus, serous exudate, sanguineous exudate, granulation, crust, and slough. A healed tail or ear wound was defined as one that was fully contracted, and no other tissue types were present. Tails took 19 ± 2 d to fall off (mean ± SD; range = 16 to 25 d) and their wound took 41 ± 8 d to heal completely (30 to 60 d). The prevalence of any of the 6 tissue types did not predict how long it took the tail wound to heal (F &amp;lt; 2.50, P &amp;gt; 0.13). Tissue types, indicative of possible infection, such as pus and slough, were present at least once in 89% and 93% of the docked lambs and in 8% and 10% of the total sampling periods, respectively. On average, pus and slough first appeared 12 ± 4 d (range = 5-22) and 11 ± 3 d (5-15) after docking, respectively. Of the 112 ear wounds, only 16% had healed by the time the lambs were weaned (55 to 74 d after tagging). Contrary to our predictions, there was a tendency for more docked lambs to have at least one healed ear wound by the end of the sampling period compared with undocked lambs (11 docked lambs vs 4 undocked lambs; X2 = 3.28, P = 0.07). This may be a result of an increased systemic inflammatory response and possible reduction in activity in the docked lambs. Overall, most ear tag wounds were still not healed after 2 mo, and tail wound took over 1 mo to heal. Further research is needed to determine the welfare implications of routine husbandry practices in sheep, including pain experienced during healing and how other factors may affect the healing process.

Early human contact and housing for pigs – part 2: resilience to routine husbandry practices

The ability of pigs to cope with routine farming practices can affect their welfare. This paper is part of a series on early experiences and stress, and reports on the effects of early human contact and housing on the responses of pigs to routine husbandry practices. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 48 litters of pigs were raised in either a conventional farrowing crate (FC) or a loose farrowing pen (LP; PigSAFE pen) which was larger, more physically complex and allowed the sow to move freely. Piglets were provided with either routine contact from stockpeople (C), or routine contact plus regular opportunities for positive human contact (+HC) involving 5 min of scratching, patting and stroking imposed to the litter 5 days/week from 0 to 4 weeks of age. At 4 weeks of age, piglets were weaned and re-housed with controlled mixing of litters within treatment. At 4 days of age, after only 3 bouts of the handling treatment, +HC pigs showed less escape behaviour than C pigs after capture by a stockperson for vaccinations and tail docking, and shorter durations of vocalisations throughout the procedures. The +HC pigs also showed less escape behaviour when captured by a stockperson at 3 weeks of age. The FC pigs showed less escape behaviour than LP pigs after capture by a stockperson at 4 days of age but not at 3 weeks of age. Serum cortisol concentrations were lower in FC pigs than LP pigs 2 h after weaning but not at 49 h after weaning, whereas serum cortisol concentrations were lower in +HC pigs than C pigs at 49 h after weaning but not at 2 h after weaning. In the period from 0 to 1 h after weaning, C pigs from LP performed the most escape attempts, although escape attempts were rare overall. When being moved out of the home pen by a stockperson at 21 weeks of age, FC pigs showed less baulking than LP pigs, but there were no detected effects of human contact treatment. In conclusion, both housing system and human contact during lactation affected the stress responses of pigs to routine husbandry practices. The +HC and FC pigs appeared to cope better than C and LP pigs, based on lower responses indicative of stress including escape behaviour, vocalisations and cortisol concentrations. These findings are consistent with corresponding reductions in fear that were reported in Part 1 of this series of papers.

Infrared Thermographic Imaging as a Tool to Assess Inflammatory and Ischemic Response With Rubber Ring Tail Docking in Suffolk and Hampshire Lambs (Ovis Aries)

ABSTRACT Tail docking in lambs is associated with an acute inflammatory and ischemic response correlated to pain. The present study sought to quantify these responses by utilizing infrared thermographic imaging (IRT) after tail docking lambs. Images were taken for each lamb before tail docking (T0), within a minute after the band was placed (T1), at 5 minutes (T5), and 15 minutes (T15) respectively and analyzed for pixel intensity in areas on the lamb’s rump, tail base, and two locations below the docking band. The pixel intensity at 2 cm below the docking band did significantly decrease (p < 0.05) over the course of the study at 15 minutes, indicating the presence of ischemia, and a significant decrease in the pixel intensity of the rump and tail base was observed. The closest location to the rubber ring showed the presence of inflammation as an indirect indicator of acute pain . IRT is a valuable tool in the detection of inflammation and ischemic areas and has the potential to be used to quantify and measure the experience of inflammation and pain after tail docking.

An Exploration of Analgesia Options for Australian Sheep.

During their lifetime, sheep undergo many painful husbandry and disease processes. Procedures undertaken on the farm, such as tail docking, castration, and mulesing, all cause considerable pain. In addition, sheep may experience painful diseases and injuries that require treatment by veterinary practitioners, and in biomedical research, sheep may undergo painful experimental procedures or conditions. It is important due to ethics, animal welfare, social licence, and, at times, legal requirements for farmers, veterinary practitioners, and researchers to provide pain relief for animals in their care. While there is a heightened awareness of and a greater interest in animal welfare, there remain few licensed and known analgesia options for sheep within Australia. A literature review was undertaken to identify currently known and potential future options for analgesic agents in sheep in farm and biomedical settings. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, opioids, local anaesthetics, α2 adrenoreceptor agonists, and NMDA receptor antagonists are some of the more common classes of analgesic drugs referred to in the literature, but few drugs are registered for use in sheep, with even fewer proven to be effective. Only six analgesic product formulations, namely, lignocaine (e.g., Numocaine®), Tri-Solfen®, ketamine, xylazine, and meloxicam (oral transmucosal and injectable formulations), are currently registered in Australia and known to be efficacious in some types of painful conditions in sheep. The gap in knowledge and availability of analgesia in sheep can pose risks to animal welfare, social licence, and research outcomes. This article presents a summary of analgesic agents that have been used in sheep on farms and in clinical veterinary and biomedical research settings along with details on whether their efficacy was assessed, doses, routes of administration, indication for use, and pain assessment techniques (if any) used. The outcome of this research highlights the challenges, gaps, and opportunities for better analgesia options in sheep.

Efficacy and Safety of Lidocam Topical Gel (4% Lidocaine-0.3% Meloxicam) for Pain and Inflammation Management during Castration and Tail Docking in Piglets.

(1) Background: It has been well established that castration and tail docking are both painful during and following the procedure, yet there are limited convenient and effective products to address both short-term and long-term pain. Lidocam Topical Gel (LTG) (4% lidocaine and 0.3% meloxicam) was developed to address industry needs for an effective and safe product to address animal welfare concerns regarding castration and tail docking in piglets. (2) Methods: Study 1: Male piglets aged 4-8 days of age were treated with LTG (n = 30) or a control gel (n = 30). Approximately 30 min after application of the gel, the piglets were surgically castrated and tail docked. The efficacy of pain control during the surgical procedures and post-procedure (24 h) pain and inflammation control were evaluated using both behavioral and physiological measurements. Study 2: Meloxicam residue depletion following LTG treatment was followed for 28 days. Study 3: Clinical and pathological safety were evaluated in five groups of eight piglets receiving LTG with: (1) no treatment, (2) nominal topical dose, (3) two times the nominal topical dose, (4) three times the nominal topical dose, and 5) one times the nominal topical dose and 2 mL of LTG by oral gavage daily for 3 days. (3) Results: LTG-treated piglets had a significant reduction in electrocutaneous stimulation response before the procedures and 4 and 24 h post-procedures. Stress vocalization intensity and duration were less in piglets receiving LTG during the surgical procedures. Plasma cortisol and substance P were significantly lower in LTG-treated piglets 3 h after castration and tail docking. The weight and average daily gain were significantly increased in piglets receiving LTG. LTG did not interfere with wound healing or cause irritation at the application sites. There were no abnormal clinical or pathological findings associated with the use of LTG at three times the nominal dose given daily for three days. As meloxicam persisted in the application site tissue, a slaughter withdrawal time of 24 days was determined. (4) Conclusions: When applied to the skin 30 min before castration and tail docking, LTG is effective in surgical pain control and provides post-surgical pain control for up to 24 h. LTG is safe for use in piglets and provides an acceptable withdrawal time for commercial use. LTG is a potentially effective product for commercial use for piglet castration and tail docking.

Determination of the sound level during different management measures in piglet rearing related to animal welfare and human health and safety

In the present study, sound level measurements were taken during management measures with expected high noise exposure on three German pig farms in order to quantify the noise level for pigs and farm staff. The sound level was measured during different activities, such as teeth grinding and tail docking of piglets, vaccination, castration with anaesthesia, stabling and rehousing the pigs. The equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq) was measured as well as the actual sound level (LAF) and the peak sound pressure level (LCPKmax). The latter two were assigned to specific sound events during the individual measures, such as piglet screams or using the pig paddle. Rehousing the pigs at the end of the nursery period resulted in the highest continuous sound levels (LAeq= 83.3 ± 4.9 dB(A)), followed by anaesthesia before castration (LAeq = 78.1 ± 7.4 dB(A)) and teeth grinding and tail docking of piglets (LAeq = 77.5 ± 3.6 dB(A)). The peak sound pressure level LCPKmax was more than 100 dB(A) for all measures with an absolute maximum of 129.7 dB(A) when pigs were being moved out of the nursery compartment. Furthermore, the human pain threshold of 120 dB(A) was exceeded in isolated cases when nursery pigs were being moved to the stable (LCPKmax = 121 dB(A)) and during anaesthesia before castration (LCPKmax = 125.2 dB(A)). During the individual measures, particularly high sound levels were generated when using a pig paddle (LAF = 92.1 ± 7.8 dBA)), when pigs ran over a loading ramp of a transporter (LAF = 93.8 ± 1.4 dB(A)) or when piglets screamed (LAF = 87.9 ± 7.5 dB(A)). The piglets’ screams were particularly loud during anaesthesia before castration (LAF = 90.0 ± 9.2 dB(A)), during vaccination (LAF = 89.6 ± 6.5 dB(A)) and during teeth grinding and tail docking (LAF = 89.5 ± 5.9 dB(A)).Even if the LAeq was always below 85 dB(A), i. e. the limit specified in European legislation (EU Directive 2008/120/EC) for continuous noise in piggeries, there were brief sound peaks that exceeded the pain threshold of 120 dB(A). In the interest of animal welfare and human health, noise should be reduced by a gentle handling of pigs. The use of the pig paddle should be restricted whenever possible. Additionally, farm staff should wear hearing protection when carrying out those measures that were identified as particularly noise-intensive in this study.

Assessment of the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Injectable Lidocaine and a Lidocaine-Impregnated Latex Band for Castration and Tail Docking in Lambs.

The objectives of this study were to assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the current standard-of-care for pain mitigation in lambs during castration and tail docking (injectable lidocaine) and assess the ability of Lidocaine-Loaded Bands (LLBs) to deliver therapeutic concentrations into the contacted tissues over time. The study was comprised of four different trials: (1) investigation of in vitro release of lidocaine from LLBs; (2) pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of injectable lidocaine in scrotal and tail tissue; (3) pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of in vivo delivery of lidocaine with LLBs placed on the tail and scrotum of lambs; and (4) a "proof-of-concept" study comparing the sensation of control- versus LLB-banded tail tissue over time. The use of injectable lidocaine provides effective short-term anesthesia for 120 to 180 min following the injection; however, additional strategies are needed to manage long-term pain. The use of an LLB could provide an alternative where tissue lidocaine concentrations meet or exceed the EC50 for at least 21-28 days and, based on electrostimulation data, provides local anesthesia for at least 3 days when compared to a control band. Further studies are needed to compare the use of an injectable local anesthetic to the LLBs.

Does tail docking prevent Cochliomyia hominivorax myiasis in sheep? A six-year retrospective cohort study

Abstract Tail docking is a husbandry practice widely incorporated in sheep farms around the world. It is an irreversible mutilation that impairs animal welfare, both immediately and in the longer term. The defence of tail docking as a practice is centred around the perception that doing so contributes to the promotion of local hygiene, allowing the use of the wool, facilitating reproductive management and reducing the chances of myiasis, a disease caused by the invasion of blowfly larvae in the tissues of warm-blooded animals. However, current understanding of farm animal welfare questions the need to maintain practices such as tail docking. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tail docking on the incidence of Cochliomyia hominivorax myiasis in sheep in an experimental flock in Brazil during a six-year retrospective cohort study. Relative risk, odds ratio and incidence rate ratio were the association measures adopted. A total of 4,318 data-points were collected and supplied the analytical model. Tail docking did not decrease the risk and, on the contrary, was found to increase the chances of sheep being affected by myiasis. The results support the hypothesis that tail docking is not a protective factor against the occurrence of myiasis and further fuel calls for a rethink of tail docking being deployed as a blanket measure in the prevention of myiasis in sheep.

Evaluation of a scheme to identify risks for tail biting in pigs.

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a tail-biting risk assessment scheme. The scheme consisted of trained private veterinary practitioners (assessors) applying a risk assessment tool on commercial pig farms to six pens per farm. The assessment tool included animal and non-animal-based observations which were used to determine the perceived risk of tail biting for each pen. For this study 27 farms were assessed, and a subsequent batch of pigs from each farm underwent post-mortem tail lesion scoring at the abattoir. The assessments revealed that a high percentage of pens had fully slatted flooring (92%) and mixed-sex populations (84%), with a significant proportion of pens containing pigs which were all tail docked (92%). Most pens (86%) did not allow all pigs simultaneous access to feeders. Enrichment was present in 88% of the pens, but most (46%) were supplied with only one item, and only 15% offering multiple enrichment types. The study found no significant associations between the risk of tail biting and visible injuries, dirty flanks, or tucked tails, as assessed by the assessors (P > 0.05). Similarly, the risk of tail biting reported per pen was not associated with aggressive, damaging, or exploratory behaviours (P > 0.05). At the abattoir, 96% of pigs' tails exhibited minor skin damage, with only 4% showing moderate to severe damage. Furthermore, no links were found between the scores obtained during slaughter and the risk of tail biting, as reported by the assessors (P < 0.05). Although the tool was useful in identifying several improvements that could be made at farm level in areas such as stocking density, enrichment provision and reducing tail docking, overall the results underscored the need for improved training of assessors, and the challenge of associating management practices and animal based measures with tail-biting risk.

Caffeine exposure causes downregulation of the expression of genes related to osteogenesis and chondrogenesis in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

With the aim of evaluating the effects of caffeine on the expression of gene transcripts related to osteogenesis and chondrogenesis, during zebrafish embryonic development the embryos were divided into five groups: control (without caffeine), 0.25 mM caffeine, 0.5 mM caffeine, 1.0mM caffeine, and 2.0mM caffeine. Embryos were placed in cell culture plates with aquarium water at 280 C for 72 hours post-fertilization (hpf). Embryonic development was followed at times of six, 12 hpf, 24 hpf, 30 hpf, 48 hpf, 54 hpf, and 72 hpf. At 72 hpf, the expression of Sox9a, runx2b, osteocalcin, osteopontin, collagen 2a1, and bmp2a was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR. The 0.25mM caffeine group showed embryonic development that was visually similar to the control group despite having a significantly lower relative expression of bmp2a, runx2b, and collagen 2a1. In the 0.5mM and 1mM caffeine groups, morphological alterations such as tail folding, pericardial edema, and yolk sac deformation were observed, and the relative expression levels of bmp2a, runx2b, and collagen 2a1 were significantly lower. In contrast, osteocalcin expression was significantly higher than in the control group. In the 2mM caffeine group, the embryos did not hatch until 72 hpf and showed tail docking and pericardial and yolk sac edema. The relative expression of bmp2a and runx2b was significantly lower, whereas that of osteocalcin, osteopontin, and collagen 2a1 did not differ from that of the control group. We conclude that caffeine altered the expression of gene transcripts related to osteogenesis and chondrogenesis in zebrafish embryos, even in embryos without visible morphological changes.

115 The Ramifications of Tail Docking Ewes on Mating Behavior and Reproductive Performance

Abstract Removing a portion of the tail, also known as tail docking, is a common husbandry practice in sheep because it is believed to reduce fecal and urine soiling of the wool. However, support for this claim is sparse, and there is evidence that females of several ungulate species use their tails to communicate in sexual contexts. The objective of this study was to test whether the tail status of a ewe affected the mating preferences of a ram, the responses of the ewe to mounting attempts, conception rate, and litter size. Within 18 Polypay female twin pairs, one lamb was docked by placing a constrictive rubber ring on the tail between 24 to 48 hours of age and the tail of the other lamb was left intact (n = 18/treatment). Between 7 to 8 months of age, the estrus cycles of the ewes were synchronized and 9 groups of 2 twin pairs were exposed to an unfamiliar virgin ram (7 to 8 months of age) for 48 hours. Video footage of the first 2 hours of behavioral interactions was analyzed to determine which ewe the ram first approached, the duration of contact with each ewe, and the count of headbutts and rejected and accepted mounts. Undocked ewes tended to accept twice as many mounts from the ram when compared with docked ewes (X2 = 3.50, P = 0.06). Additionally, undocked ewes tended to reject fewer mounts (X2 = 0.3.72, P = 0.05). Undocked ewes were the targets of twice as many headbutts from the ram when compared with docked ewes (X2 = 19.50, P &amp;lt; 0.001). The analysis of which ewe the ram first approached and the duration of contact with each ewe is ongoing. Of the 36 ewes, 15 docked and 15 undocked ewes were bred, achieving an 83% conception rate. Based on ultrasounds 40 to 44 days post-breeding, tail status did not significantly influence prospective litter size (mean ± SE; docked: 1.73 ± 0.13; undocked: 1.93 ± 0.15; X2 = 1.04, P = 0.31). Our results show that tail docking did not influence the reproductive performance of ewes. However, the behavior of ewes and rams varied based on the tail status of the ewe, with rams targeting more aggression toward undocked ewes and undocked ewes showing greater sexual receptivity. Further research on the merits and pitfalls of tail docking is necessary to determine how this procedure holistically affects sheep welfare and performance.