Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8503999 | Research in Veterinary Science | 2018 | 37 Pages |
Abstract
Mulesing is a painful husbandry procedure commonly used to reduce the risk of breech strike in sheep. This study assessed the behavioural (over 6â¯h), cortisol, haptoglobin and haematology responses to surgical mulesing plus tail hot knife docking (mulesing); modulated by a buccal meloxicam formulation (Buccalgesic), a topical local anaesthetic wound dressing (Tri-Solfen) or both agents. 24 lambs were allocated to each of: 1) Placebo and sham handled (Sham); 2) Placebo and mulesing (Mules); 3) Buccalgesic and mulesing (Mulesâ¯+â¯B); 4) Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mulesâ¯+â¯T); 5) Placebo, Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mulesâ¯+â¯Tâ¯+â¯P); 6) Buccalgesic, Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mulesâ¯+â¯Tâ¯+â¯B). Compared with Mules, Mulesâ¯+â¯T had a lower cortisol response (72.5â¯Â±â¯8.7â¯nmol/L v 122.9â¯Â±â¯8.7â¯nmol/L) at 30â¯min, reduced statue standing at 2â¯h (3.9% v 11.4%) and increased lying (20.9-25.0% v 7.3-12.5%). Mulesâ¯+â¯B had reduced cortisol response at 6â¯h (48.1â¯Â±â¯8.5â¯nmol/L), reduced Neutrophil:Lymphocyte ratio at 6â¯h (Mulesâ¯+â¯B: 1.25; Mules: 2.44), reduced statue standing at 2â¯h and 4-6â¯h (4.1-8.3%), and increased lying at 5â¯h (27.4%). Mulesâ¯+â¯Bâ¯+â¯T had lower cortisol concentrations at 30â¯mins (86.51â¯Â±â¯8.71â¯nmol/L), TWCC not significantly different from Sham at 6â¯h (9.07 vs 8.09) and 24â¯h (9.05 vs 8.38). Mulesâ¯+â¯Tâ¯+â¯B had significantly lower TWCC than Mules at 12â¯h (9.56 vs 11.05) and 24â¯h (9.05 vs 10.42). Mulesâ¯+â¯Tâ¯+â¯B did not.
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Authors
Alison Holdhus Small, Danila Marini, Maxime le Floch, David Paull, Caroline Lee,