Mayer Carina, Zablotski Yury, Rieger Anna, Knubben-Schweizer Gabriela, Feist Melanie
Klinik für Wiederkäuer mit Ambulanz und Bestandsbetreuung der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere. 2020 Oct;48(5):328-337. doi: 10.1055/a-1261-6346. Epub 2020 Oct 20.
According to the German law on animal welfare (§ 6, section 3, No. 3), the prophylactic amputation of beef calves' tail end using elastic rubber rings requires authorities' permission. Removal of the tail end is performed in order to avoid tail tip necrosis. Other invasive management procedures such as dehorning and castration are associated with pain reactions and stress in calves. Also, more proximal docking of the tail between 2 vertebrae has a proven impact on the animal's wellbeing. However, little is known concerning the occurrence of pain and stress during docking the soft tail tip in beef calves. For this reason, this pilot study aimed to evaluate pain reactions of calves during tail docking using rubber rings.
Sixteen male Fleckvieh and Fleckvieh-crossbreed calves 8-10 weeks of age were involved using a double-blind study. On day 0, a rubber ring was placed 3 cm proximally to the tip of the tail in the calves in group A (amputation), whereas calves in the group K (control) underwent a similar control handling. Following the procedure, blood plasma concentrations of cortisol and substance P were determined by ELISA. Parameters concerning behavior and activity were collected using video-assisted observation and recording of pedometer data.
Treatment had no impact on substance P levels. The development of serum cortisol levels showed a decrease in group K compared to baseline values whereas cortisol levels remained constant in group A. On day 0, calves in group A exhibited higher step counts, tail shaking frequency as well as grooming of tail and hind quarters than calves in group K.
Increased step count may be interpreted as restlessness. Frequent tail shaking as well as repetitive tail and rear quarter grooming may be associated with unpleasant sensation of the rubber rings' pressure. Alterations in physiological behavior, as well as a constant level of cortisol on day 0 and day + 1 may be indicative for pain perception provoked by the rubber ring application.
In the first place, improvement of animal welfare is warranted for a reduction in incidence of tail tip necrosis, especially taking husbandry conditions into account. However, if tail docking is deemed necessary, based on the presented results the administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is recommended in order to reduce peri-procedural pain.
根据德国动物福利法（第6条第3款第3项），使用弹性橡胶圈对肉牛犊进行预防性断尾需要当局批准。断尾是为了避免尾尖坏死。其他侵入性管理程序，如去角和阉割，会导致犊牛出现疼痛反应和应激。此外，在两个椎骨之间更近端的断尾已被证明会对动物的健康产生影响。然而，关于肉牛犊软尾尖断尾过程中疼痛和应激的发生情况，人们知之甚少。因此，这项初步研究旨在评估使用橡胶圈对犊牛断尾时的疼痛反应。
采用双盲研究，纳入16头8 - 10周龄的雄性弗莱维赫牛和弗莱维赫杂交牛犊。在第0天，A组（断尾组）的犊牛在距尾尖近端3 cm处放置一个橡胶圈，而K组（对照组）的犊牛接受类似的对照处理。处理后，通过酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测定血浆皮质醇和P物质的浓度。使用视频辅助观察和计步器数据记录收集有关行为和活动的参数。
处理对P物质水平没有影响。与基线值相比，K组血清皮质醇水平呈下降趋势，而A组皮质醇水平保持不变。在第0天，A组犊牛的步数、摇尾频率以及舔尾和后躯的次数均高于K组犊牛。
步数增加可能被解释为不安。频繁摇尾以及反复舔尾和后躯可能与橡胶圈压力带来的不适感有关。生理行为的改变以及第0天和第 + 1天皮质醇水平的恒定可能表明橡胶圈应用引发了疼痛感知。
首先，为了降低尾尖坏死的发生率，特别是考虑到饲养条件，改善动物福利是必要的。然而，如果认为断尾是必要的，根据目前的结果，建议使用非甾体类抗炎药以减轻围手术期疼痛。
