Assessment of acute and chronic pain after different methods of castration of calves
V Molony, JE Kent, IS Robertson - Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1995 - Elsevier
Four groups of Ayrshire calves (n= 8 each) were castrated at 1 week of age by either
surgery, crushing by a Burdizzo, rubber ring or a combination of the Burdizzo and rubber
ring methods. Responses of castrated calves were compared with a control group (n= 8) of
handled calves. Plasma cortisol was measured in blood samples taken during the first 3 h
after castration. Observations of behaviour were made for 3 h immediately after castration,
and for 3 h each afternoon for the first 4 days and then on every third day to 48 days after …
surgery, crushing by a Burdizzo, rubber ring or a combination of the Burdizzo and rubber
ring methods. Responses of castrated calves were compared with a control group (n= 8) of
handled calves. Plasma cortisol was measured in blood samples taken during the first 3 h
after castration. Observations of behaviour were made for 3 h immediately after castration,
and for 3 h each afternoon for the first 4 days and then on every third day to 48 days after …