Grad Student Competition
Comparing the use of lidocaine-loaded bands to reduce pain and discomfort in dairy and beef-dairy calves.
| Date/Time: |
9/12/2025
11:15
|
| Author: |
Jacob Schumacher |
| Clinic: |
Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute |
| City, State, ZIP: |
Manhattan, KS 66503 |
Jacob Shumacher, BS
1
;
Eduarda Bortoluzzi, DVM
1
;
Jordana Zimmerman, DVM
1
;
Maddie Mancke, BS
2
;
Rebecca Bigelow, BS
2
;
Luis Feitoza, DVM
2
;
Brad White, DVM
2
;
Johann Coetzee, DVM
1
;
1Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Ave., Manhattan KS 66502, USA
2Beef Cattle Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Ave., Manhattan KS 66502, USA
Introduction:
Introduction of greater number of beef-dairy calves entering US beef market continues to highlight the importance of pain mitigation during castration. However, no studies have compared pain responses to band castration between dairy and beef-dairy calves. This study aimed to evaluate pain mitigation and behavior in dairy and beef-dairy calves castrated with lidocaine-loaded or standard bands.
Materials and methods:
This blinded randomized controlled trial followed a 2x2 factorial design including breed (Holstein and beef-dairy) and band type (lidocaine-loaded and standard). Forty bull calves were randomly assigned to be castrated with lidocaine-loaded bands (HOL-LLB, n=9; BOD-LBB, n=9), or standard control band (HOL-CON, n=10; BOD-CON, n=10). Lie/stand behavior, gait analysis, plasma cortisol, and performance were analyzed in multiple timepoints. Linear-mixed effects models were used to determine potential associations between outcomes and band type, breed, time, and their interactions.
Results:
A significant breed effect was found for standing bouts, where they were more frequent in beef-dairy calves compared to Holsteins (18.3 and 17.3 bouts/day, respectively; SEM=0.49). Gait outcomes showed increased velocity and decreased gait distance over time for the CON group (P<0.05). Band type and breed had no effect on plasma cortisol and performance outcomes (P>0.05).
Significance:
There was little difference in pain outcomes between beef-dairy and Holstein calves, suggesting that it is not necessary to provide different pain management between the breeds during band castration. Gait results indicate that the CON group may have experienced greater pain than the LLB group.
