Peter Beard
Territory Manager – Farm Animals (WA & NT)
Dechra Veterinary Products
In previous editions, we have discussed how Tri-Solfen can help to deliver Gold Standard pain relief during surgical procedures in calves. In this article, we are going to address the elephant in the room: does providing pain relief really make any difference?
Overwhelmingly, yes! Clinical studies demonstrate that provision of a topical anaesthetic (e.g. Tri-Solfen®), ideally in combination with an analgesic product (e.g. Meloxicam Injectable/Buccalgesic paste), to beef and dairy calves undergoing disbudding, dehorning and surgical castration significantly reduces pain and improves animal welfare.1-5
One study conducted by the University of Sydney examined the pain response of dairy heifer calves following scoop dehorning.1 In this trial, calves treated with Tri-Solfen displayed significantly lower pain-related behaviours following dehorning than untreated calves at all time points from 30 minutes to 5 hours following dehorning.1
There was no difference in pain-related behaviours between calves treated with Tri-Solfen and calves that were not dehorned over the same time points.1 Calves treated with Tri-Solfen had reduced pain sensitivity on the wound and surrounding skin area following dehorning compared to untreated calves.1
A second study conducted by the University of Sydney found that Tri-Solfen provides rapid and prolonged pain relief in calves up to 24 hours after surgical castration.2 In this trial, 27 Angus bull calves aged three to four months (average 135.8 kg liveweight) were randomly allocated to one of three groups for either surgical castration, surgical castration in combination with topical anaesthetic or sham castrated controls.
In this trial, calves treated with Tri-Solfen exhibited less pain-related behaviours than untreated calves at all time points after castration and similar behaviours to uncastrated calves.2 Skin sensitivity of wound and peri-wound surfaces was assessed 1 minute and 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after surgical castration.2 Calves treated with Tri-Solfen exhibited significantly higher pain thresholds in wounds and surrounding skin compared to untreated calves.2
A third study conducted by the University of Sydney found that calves treated with Tri-Solfen had lower plasma cortisol concentrations (an indicator of stress) than untreated calves for up to six hours following surgical castration, although these differences were not significant.3
A fourth study conducted by the University of Sydney assessed the effect of Tri-Solfen and/or a buccal analgesic on behaviour and weight gain following surgical castration and dehorning in a commercial beef herd in Queensland.
In this trial, calves treated with Tri-Solfen in combination with a Buccal analgesic demonstrated less signs of pain (e.g. head turns, tail flicks) and spent more time lying down following castration and dehorning than untreated calves or those treated with Tri-Solfen or a buccal analgesic alone.4 Calves treated with Tri-Solfen in combination with a buccal analgesic also demonstrated significantly greater weight gain than untreated calves following castration and dehorning.4
Dechra is proudly sponsoring and attending the upcoming NTCA Conference in Darwin – Be sure to check your satchel for a TriSolfen branded EID Tag or come along to our booth, collect your Tag and Scan it with us for a chance to WIN!
For more information about how Tri-Solfen helps to deliver Gold Standard pain relief during surgical procedures, please contact your Dechra territory manager, rural reseller or veterinarian.
| Candice Cottrell Territory Sales Manager – Farm Animal (QLD) Dechra Veterinary Products 0456 881 335 | Peter Beard Territory Sales Manager – Farm Animal (WA & NT) Dechra Veterinary Products 0456 866 174 |
References: 1. Espinoza, C., et al. (2013). The effect of a topical anaesthetic on the sensitivity of calf dehorning wounds. J. Dairy Sci. 96:2894–2902 2. Lomax, S. & Windsor, P. (2013). Topical anaesthesia mitigates the pain of castration in beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 91(10):4945-52. 3. McCarthy, D. et al. (2016). Effect of a topical anaesthetic formulation on the cortisol response to surgical castration of unweaned beef calves. Animal. 10(1):150-156. 4. Van der Saag, D. et al. (2018). Effects of topical anaesthetic and buccal meloxicam treatments on concurrent castration and dehorning of beef calves. Animals 8(3):35. 5. McCarthy, D. et al., (2016). Effect of topically applied anaesthetic formulation on the sensitivity of scoop dehorning wounds in calves. PLoS ONE 11(9):e0163181.
®Tri-Solfen is a registered trademark of Animal Ethics Pty Ltd. ®Registered trademarks. ©Dechra Veterinary Products (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2024. DEC25019.
