Less experienced observers assess piglet castration-induced acute pain differently than experienced observers: A pilot study.

Behavioral pain scales have been helpful for standardized swine pain assessment. However, it is still unknown if observers' experience influences the scale score. We conducted a pilot study to investigate how three different levels of swine experience influenced how observers scored castration pain in piglets using Unesp-Botucatu Pig Composite Acute Pain Scale (UPAPS).

Prostaglandin E2 is an unreliable biomarker for inflammation in castrated piglets: a randomized controlled trial assessing pharmaceutical drug efficiency.

Objective: To investigate the effect of intranasal (IN) flunixin meglumine (FM) and intra-inguinal (IG) lidocaine on castration inflammation using prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration as a biomarker.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in March 2022. Blood was collected at -24, 1, and 24 hours postcastration for PGE2 quantification from 195 piglets that received 1 of 8 treatments: (1) saline (1.

Real-time and video-recorded pain assessment in beef cattle: clinical application and reliability in young, adult bulls undergoing surgical castration.

Bovine pain assessment relies on validated behavioral scales related to normal and pain-related behaviors. This study investigated the reliability and applicability of real-time and video-recorded pain assessment, and their agreement, in young, adult bulls undergoing surgical castration. Ten Nelore and nine Angus bulls underwent general anesthesia and surgical castration.

Effects of assessment method (real-time versus video-recorded) on a validated pain-altered behavior scale used in castrated piglets.

We aimed to compare two assessment methodologies (real-time vs. video-recorded) using the Unesp-Botucatu Pig Composite Acute Pain Scale (UPAPS) in piglets before and after castration. Twenty-nine male piglets were castrated.

Efficacy of inguinal buffered lidocaine and intranasal flunixin meglumine on mitigating physiological and behavioral responses to pain in castrated piglets.

Managing castration pain on US sow farms is hindered by the lack of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved products for mitigating pain. Previous work assessing flunixin meglumine (FM) efficacy in mitigating castration pain has shown the drug to be effective in pigs, meanwhile, results from previous work evaluating lidocaine efficacy are contradictory. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of inguinal buffered lidocaine (BL) and FM in mitigating castration pain in piglets.

Interactive euthanasia training program for the dairy industry: Implementation and perceived respondent knowledge change.

This study described the development of an interactive euthanasia training program and its potential to improve dairy workers' perceived euthanasia decision-making skills and awareness of timely euthanasia by using a survey instrument before and after the program. Training material encompassed euthanasia information over 2 production stages (calves and cows or heifers) and material was delivered on-farm in a case-scenario format (14 cases). During a 3-mo period, 30 different dairy farms were visited and 81 participants were enrolled in this study.

Dairy workers' attitudes toward dairy cattle euthanasia.

Implementing timely and humane euthanasia in dairy farms remains a critical concern. One of the possible barriers for the implementation of timely euthanasia on-farm is dairy workers' attitudes toward the act. The objectives of this study were to investigate dairy workers' attitudes toward dairy cattle euthanasia and their association to individuals' demographic characteristics.

Validation of the Unesp-Botucatu pig composite acute pain scale (UPAPS) in piglets undergoing castration.

To accurately assess pain and support broadly-based analgesic protocols to mitigate swine pain, it is imperative to develop and validate a species-specific pain scale. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical validity and reliability of an acute pain scale (UPAPS) adapted for newborn piglets undergoing castration. Thirty-nine male piglets (five days of age, 1.

Efficacy of transdermal flunixin in mitigating castration pain in piglets.

Castration is a painful procedure performed in swine and to date, there are no approved products available in the US to alleviate this pain. Previous work evaluating the efficacy of flunixin meglumine has shown promise in mitigating pain in swine, but no work to date has evaluated transdermal flunixin efficacy in mitigating castration pain in piglets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transdermal flunixin (TDF) in mitigating castration pain utilizing a previously validated behavioral pain scale.

Impact of transdermal flunixin administration on serum prostaglandin E2 and cortisol concentrations in piglets following castration.

Objective: To assess the effects of transdermal flunixin administration on serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cortisol concentrations in piglets undergoing castration.

Animals: 104 litters with at least 4 male piglets/litter.

Procedures: Litters were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: transdermal flunixin (3.