Interpretation of cortisol responses in calf disbudding studies

Authors: Stafford KJ, Mellor DJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 45, Issue 3, pp 126-127, Jun 1997
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Anaesthesia/analgesia/sedation, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Animal welfare, Husbandry/husbandry procedures, Endocrine/autocrine/paracrine, Surgery
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: We are aware that the paper by Petrie et al. entitled Cortisol responses of calves to two methods of disbudding used with or without local anaesthetic (New Zealand Veterinary Journal 44, 9-14, 1996) has generated some concern among veterinarians with regard to the effect of local anaesthetic on the distress evoked by disbudding. The paper apparently has been used by some to justify not using local anaesthetic with cautery disbudding, whilst others challenge the conclusions of the paper to justify the use of local anaesthetic. There are four issues raised by this situation: (1) What the Petrie et al. paper does and does not say. (2) The limits imposed by experimental design. (3) How progress in knowledge can or should influence its application. (4) How scientists can work together to clarify issues about which there appears to be disagreement. We acknowledge an ommission in the last sentence of the abstract which states that “The administration of local anaesthetic had little effect in alleviating distress in calves disbudded using the cautery iron”. In this sentence the word overall is missing and it was meant to read…

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