Dehorning and welfare indicators in beef cattle: a meta-analysis
M. E. A. Canozzi A , A. Mederos B , S. Turner C , X. Manteca D , C. McManus E , S. R. O. Menegassi A and J. O. J. Barcellos A F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Research on Production Systems and Beef Cattle Supply Chain (NESPro/UFRGS), Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 91.540-000, Brazil.
B National Research Institute for Agriculture (INIA), Ruta 5 km 386, Tacuarembo 45000, Uruguay.
C Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
D Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain.
E Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília, Brazil, 70910-900.
F Corresponding author. Email: julio.barcellos@ufrgs.br
Animal Production Science 59(5) 801-814 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17752
Submitted: 27 January 2017 Accepted: 11 April 2018 Published: 30 May 2018
Abstract
Dehorning is a common practice in cattle farming. Researchers suggest that pain during dehorning can be mitigated, although there is no conclusive evidence about the best technique and the best manner of pain relief. A systematic review-meta-analysis was performed to clarify the effect of dehorning on welfare indicators (cortisol concentration or average daily gain or vocalisation) in beef cattle up to 12 months of age. Five electronic databases were systematically searched, as well as conference proceedings and experts were contacted electronically. Pre-defined protocols were applied during all steps of the systematic review process. A random effect meta-analysis was conducted for each indicator separately with the mean of the control and treated groups. Four publications reporting seven studies and 69 trials were included in the MA involving 287 cattle. Heterogeneity between studies was observed for cortisol (I2 = 50.5%), average daily gain (I2 = 70.5%), and vocalisation (I2 = 91.9%). When comparing the non-dehorned group with amputation dehorning, the cortisol concentration was lower 30 min (P < 0.0001) and 120 min (P = 0.023) after procedure (0.767 nmol/L and 0.680 nmol/L, respectively). Local anaesthesia did not show a reduction in cortisol concentration at 30 min after dehorning by amputation. Non-dehorned animals had a tendency to decrease the number of vocalisation (P = 0.081; MD = 0.929) compared with the group dehorned by amputation. These results suggest that dehorning is a painful experience and that local anaesthesia did not alleviate short-term pain following dehorning. Further investigation into pain relief is required to improve confident decision making under practical conditions.
Additional keywords: animal analgesics, animal pain, animal welfare, cattle.
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