An evaluation form to aid dairy producers to systematically assess cows prior to culling.

Objective: The objective of this prospective observational research project was to have dairy producers use and assess the utility of a cull cow evaluation form.

Animals: Cull dairy cows.

Procedure: Veterinarians were recruited to enrol a purposively selected group of dairy producers into a project to evaluate a cull cow evaluation form.

Experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of accredited advisors towards a voluntary producer training program for Canadian Quality Milk.

This study was conducted to understand the experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of advisors towards the voluntary producer training program offered in Ontario prior to the first Canadian Quality Milk validation. A survey was used to gather advisor opinions and was sent by e-mail to all advisors listed on the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) website. ANOVA and Chi-Square analyses were utilized to identify significant differences among respondent groups (veterinarian, non-veterinarian, and unidentified), linear regression was used to evaluate associations with the number of producers an advisor trained, and logistic regression was performed to evaluate associations with advisor opinions.

Effects of local anesthetic or systemic analgesia on pain associated with cautery disbudding in calves: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Disbudding is a common management procedure performed on dairy farms and, when done without pain mitigation, is viewed as a key welfare issue. Use of pain control has increased in recent years, but full adoption of anesthesia and analgesia by veterinarians or dairy producers has not been achieved. This may in part be due to the lack of a consistent recommendations of treatment protocols between studies examining pain control methods for disbudding.

Comparison of online, hands-on, and a combined approach for teaching cautery disbudding technique to dairy producers.

The use of pain control for disbudding and dehorning is important from both an animal and industry perspective. Best practices include the use of local anesthetic, commonly given as a cornual nerve block (CNB), and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The proportion is decreasing, but many dairy producers do not use local anesthesia, perhaps in part due to lack of knowledge of the CNB technique.

Comparison of an online learning module to hands-on training in teaching a cautery disbudding technique for dairy calves including cornual nerve block application.

Disbudding and dehorning are common procedures on dairy farms. In a recent survey of Ontario dairy producers, 38% reported not using local anesthetic for these procedures. Use of pain control is important for both calf welfare and industry sustainability.

Clinical trial of local anesthetic protocols for acute pain associated with caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves.

Caustic paste disbudding is becoming more commonplace in North America. A large body of work has examined pain control for cautery disbudding and surgical dehorning, but fewer studies have evaluated pain control for caustic paste disbudding, and results conflict regarding benefits of local anesthesia. In humans, the pain associated with a caustic, chemical burn can differ in nature, duration, and intensity compared with a thermal burn.

Practices for the disbudding and dehorning of dairy calves by veterinarians and dairy producers in Ontario, Canada.

Disbudding and dehorning dairy calves is very common, despite the introduction of polled genetics to most dairy breeds. Appropriate pain-control practices for these procedures affect both calf welfare and public perception of the dairy industry. Previously published work has shown that North American dairy producers have not widely adopted use of these medications for disbudding or dehorning.