Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 27;14(1):25620. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77147-6.
Grimace scales have been used to assess pain in various animal species. This study aimed to develop the calf grimace scale (CGS), evaluate its responsiveness and the effect of external factors (change of environment and dam separation, and restraint) on CGS. Sixty-nine Angus calves, 6-8 weeks old, were randomly allocated into castrated (n = 34) and sham castrated (n = 35) groups. Images were extracted from videos pre- (M1-M4), during- (M5), and post-castration/sham castration (M6, M7). Six facial action units (FAUs) were identified: ear position, orbital tightening, tension above the eye, nostril dilation, straining of chewing muscle, and mouth opening. Final CGS median scores increased after castration (P < 0.001) for both non-restrained (M7 versus M2) and restrained (M6 versus M3) calves, indicating scale responsiveness. Final CGS median scores increased (P < 0.001) when calves were subjected to external factors before castration (M1 [baseline] versus M2 and M3). However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in CGS median scores before and after sham castration, regardless of restraint (M3 versus M6, and M2 versus M7), indicating that the external factors may have reached a maximum effect. The CGS is composed of six FAUs, responsive to acute pain and can identify stress unrelated to pain.
用于评估各种动物疼痛的鬼脸评分量表已经被开发出来。本研究旨在开发牛犊鬼脸评分量表（CGS），评估其反应性以及外部因素（环境和母畜分离变化以及约束）对 CGS 的影响。69 头 6-8 周龄的安格斯小牛被随机分配到去势（n=34）和假去势（n=35）组。在去势/假去势前（M1-M4）、期间（M5）和之后（M6、M7）从视频中提取图像。确定了 6 个面部动作单元（FAU）：耳朵位置、眼眶收紧、眼睛上方紧张、鼻孔扩张、咀嚼肌收缩和张口。去势后（M7 与 M2）和约束后（M6 与 M3）非约束（M7 与 M2）和约束（M6 与 M3）小牛的最终 CGS 中位数评分均增加（P<0.001），表明量表具有反应性。在去势前（M1[基线]与 M2 和 M3）外部因素作用下，小牛的最终 CGS 中位数评分增加（P<0.001）。然而，无论是否受到约束（M3 与 M6，M2 与 M7），假去势前后的 CGS 中位数评分均无差异（P>0.05），表明外部因素可能已达到最大效应。CGS 由 6 个 FAU 组成，对急性疼痛有反应性，可识别与疼痛无关的应激。
