Self-Administration of Meloxicam via Medicated Molasses Lick Blocks May Improve Welfare of Castrated Calves.

The self-administration of meloxicam via medicated feed is a novel concept that could enable non-invasive, pre-emptive and long-term analgesia. Forty male calves were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: no castration (PC), surgical castration (NC), surgical castration with subcutaneous meloxicam (M), and surgical castration with medicated lick blocks (ML). Data collection occurred at various timepoints over 13 days following treatment.