Evaluating the efficacy of two local anesthetics to extend analgesia in Holstein calves after dehorning

Abstract

The dehorning of dairy calves is a painful procedure routinely done in commercial production systems, to facilitate handling and increase human and animal safety. The American Associa­tion of Bovine Practitioners recommends the use of procedures and practices that reduce or eliminate pain associated with de­horning to improve on-farm animal welfare. This study aimed to 1) determine if the addition of bupivacaine lipsome inject­able suspension or ethanol to lidocaine would provide extended pain relief to dairy calves post-dehorning, and 2) determine which local anesthetic most effectively reduced pain biomark­ers and behaviors post-dehorning.