Effect of Oral Flunixin Meglumine on Heart Rate, Physical Activity, and Salivary Cortisol Concentration following Cautery Disbudding of Dairy Calves

Authors

  • D. Morin Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802
  • L. Brown Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802
  • R. Wallace Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802
  • V. Jarrell Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802
  • P. Constable School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20094298

Keywords:

disbudded, analgesics, NSAIDs, milk replacer, flunixin meglumine, heart rate, physical activity, salivary cortisol concentration, cautery

Abstract

US dairy calves are often disbudded at an early age without analgesics, whereas several other countries require analgesics. Administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in milk replacer would be a simple, stress-free method to deliver analgesics for disbudding if shown to improve well-being. Most studies of NSAID efficacy involve older animals, NSAIDs not labeled for use in US cattle, or NSAIDs administered by injection. Our objective was to determine the effects of administering an NSAID labeled for use in US cattle (flunixin meglumine; FM) in milk replacer on heart rate (HR), physical activity (PA), and salivary cortisol concentration (SCC) in young dairy calves disbudded by cautery.

Cover image of the 42nd Conference Proceedings: Cattle grazing in a spring field along the horizon. In the foreground, one brown cow with a triangle marking and ear tags is posing. Yellow background.

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Published

2009-09-10

Issue

2009

Section

Research Summaries 1