The alleviation of pain in cattle: a review.
2006
Stafford, K. J. | Chambers, J. P. | Mellor, D. J.
The alleviation of pain in cattle is dependent on the ability to recognise pain and to determine whether systemic analgesia or local anaesthesia is effective. Local and regional anaesthesia have long been used to reduce pain and its attendant behaviours during surgery in conscious cattle, but concern about post-operative pain and its alleviation are more recent developments. A number of classes of analgesics (opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonists) are used in cattle to alleviate pain caused by surgery, injury or disease. These drugs can be useful analgesics, but their use is limited by concern about residues and cost. The NSAID, ketoprofen, has been shown to be an effective analgesic after dehorning and castration when combined with local anaesthesia in calves. Xylazine is also an effective analgesic but there is very limited information on the analgesic effects in cattle of many other drugs. There are a limited number of drugs registered for use in cattle and it is important that local anaesthetics and systemic analgesics are available to alleviate pain in this species at prices which make them economically attractive.
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