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Effect of flunixin meglumine on pain-related behaviours following cautery disbudding in dairy goat kids

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the physiological and behavioural parameters in Saanen goat kids treated with flunixin meglumine compared with no analgesic treatment after cautery disbudding using a device fueled by propane gas. At 7 days of age, 30 goat kids were randomly allocated to three groups: Sham (Sh) control, (i.e., simulating disbudding); Disbudding (Di), using thermal cauterization; Disbudding + Flunixin (DiFl), thermal cauterization + flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg body weight, 15 min before treatment). Each kid was video-recorded for 30 min before and after treatment to evaluate the frequency of head shaking, head scratching, body shaking, grooming, head rubbing, jumping, running, and bleating. Blood samples were taken 30 min after disbudding to evaluate serum cortisol concentrations and white blood cell count. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured using a stethoscope. Liveweight of goat kids was recorded at birth, -24 h and 7 days after treatment, and at 25 days of age. The mean frequency of head shaking and head scratching was higher (p = 0.0001) after disbudding in Di (37.5 ± 47.8 and 33.32 ± 31.2) group compared to Sh (3.42 ± 3.58 and 2.2 ± 1.8) and DiFl, (4.02 ± 2.76 and 4.42 ± 3.72) groups. The frequency of jumping was higher (p = 0.022) for Di (3.74 ± 2.24) than that of DiFl (0.39 ± 0.92). The remaining behaviours did not show differences (p > 0.05). HR and RR were higher (HR: p < 0.0048; RR: p < 0.035) in group Di (HR: 156 ± 13.6; RR: 66 ± 14.8) than in Sh (HR: 138 ± 8.48; RR: 55.6 ± 5.4) and in DiFl (HR: 136 ± 6.38; RR: 52.8 ± 4.13). No differences were detected between live weight, serum cortisol and white blood cell count data (p > 0.05). Results show that flunixin meglumine was effective at reducing pain-related behaviours when given at the time of disbudding.

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Funding

This research was funded by the project Animal Welfare of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology of Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta, INTA, Cerrillos, 4403, Salta, Argentina

    Gabriela Marcela Martínez, Víctor Humberto Suárez, Emilio Alfaro & José Alfaro

  2. AgResearch Ltd., Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Melissa Hempstead

  3. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido, INTA, Cerrillos, 4403, Salta, Argentina

    Luis Colque Caro

Authors
  1. Gabriela Marcela Martínez
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  2. Víctor Humberto Suárez
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  3. Melissa Hempstead
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  4. Emilio Alfaro
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  5. Luis Colque Caro
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  6. José Alfaro
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by GMM, VHS, EA, JA and LCC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by GMM, VHS and MH. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gabriela Marcela Martínez.

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This study has been approved by a research ethics committee of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology of Argentina (Regional Centre Salta—Jujuy). Acta No 16/21 of 1 July 2021.

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Martínez, G.M., Suárez, V.H., Hempstead, M. et al. Effect of flunixin meglumine on pain-related behaviours following cautery disbudding in dairy goat kids. Vet Res Commun 47, 159–165 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-022-09938-z

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