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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291824
Title: Effect of meloxicam on gain and inflammatory response of calves castrated by banding post-weaning

Author
item WHITLOCK, BRIAN - University Of Tennessee
item KRAWCZEL, PETER - University Of Tennessee
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Dailey, Jeffery
item DANIEL, JAY - Berry College
item COETZEE, JOHANN - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2013
Publication Date: 10/24/2013
Citation: Whitlock, B.K., Krawczel, P.D., Carroll, J.A., Sanchez, N.C., Dailey, J.W., Daniel, J.A., Coetzee, J.F. 2013. Effect of meloxicam on gain and inflammatory response of calves castrated by banding post-weaning. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 91(E-Suppl. 2): 532-533 (Abstract TH171).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Castration may detrimentally affect the health and performance of weaned calves, and painful procedures are increasingly becoming a public concern. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of castration (by banding) with or without administration of meloxicam, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug, on performance and the inflammatory response in weaned beef calves. Weaned beef calves [n=48;10.0+/-0.2 months old; 304+/-6 kg body weight] were blocked by age, body weight, withers height, scrotal circumference, and source, then randomly assigned to 3 treatments (n=16 calves per treatment: 1) intact bulls (BULL), 2) castration by banding (BAN), or 3) castration by banding with orally-administered meloxicam (3 mg per kg BW on day 0 and 14; BAN+M). Calves were assigned to 8 pens (2 calves per treatment within each pen) one week before treatment administration for acclimation to group housing. Body weight and plasma haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations were assessed on 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after treatment. Rectal temperature (RT) was recorded continuously at 5-minute intervals for 14 d by indwelling RT probes fitted to the calves on day 0. Data were tested for effects of treatment, day, pen, and treatment by day interaction using procedures for repeated measures. BULL gained more weight (0.69+/-0.12 kg/day; P<0.05) than BAN (0.15+/-0.11 kg/day) or BAN+M (0.14+/-0.11 kg/day) over 28 days. There was no effect of treatment (P=0.36) or treatment by day interaction (P=0.21) on mean plasma haptoglobin concentration. There was no effect of treatment (P=0.84) or treatment by day interaction (P=0.25) on mean plasma fibrinogen concentration. There was an effect of treatment (P<0.001) and a treatment by time interaction (P<0.001) on mean RT during the 14 d after treatment administration. Over 14 d, BAN+M had the greatest mean RT (39.47C+/-0.006C), BAN had the second greatest temperature (39.42C+/-0.006C), and BULL had the lowest temperature (39.41C+/-0.005C). Decreased ADG indicates that castration was painful regardless of pain abatement. Benefits of meloxicam were not evident from changes in growth performance or the inflammatory response.