Clinical impacts of administering a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to beef calves after assisted calving on pain and inflammation, passive immunity, health, and growth

Abstract

Assisted calves are often born weak, injured, or oxygen deprived and have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. The objective was to investigate the impact of using pain mitigation at birth in assisted beef calves on physiological indicators of pain and inflammation, passive immunity, health, and growth. Thirty-three primiparous cows and their calves requiring assistance at birth on two ranches located in southern Alberta were enrolled. Data collected at birth include date and time of calving, calf sex, meconium staining, presentation of calf, and calving difficulty (easy assist: one person manually delivered the calf; difficult assist: delivery by two or more people, or mechanical assistance). Within 10 min of birth, calves were stratified by calving difficulty, randomized to a medication group, and received a subcutaneous dose of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg BW) or an equivalent volume of placebo. Cow–calf pairs were then placed in individual box stalls for observation and sampling. At birth, 1, 4, and 24 h after birth, heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were assessed and blood samples collected to measure indicators of pain and inflammation (cortisol, corticosterone, substance P, and haptoglobin). Serum IgG concentration and failed transfer of passive immunity (serum IgG concentration <24 g/L) were assessed in the 24-h blood samples. Preweaning treatment for disease and mortality information was collected and calves were weighed at 7 to 10 d of age and at weaning. Of the 33 calves enrolled, 17 calves received meloxicam and 16 calves received a placebo. Meloxicam-medicated calves had significantly greater ADG to 7 to 10 d of age (P = 0.05) (mean = 0.9 kg/d; SE = 0.10) compared with placebo-medicated calves (mean = 0.6 kg/d; SE = 0.12). There was no significant effect of meloxicam on physiological indicators of pain and inflammation, standing or nursing by 1 h, passive immunity, health outcomes, or ADG to weaning (P > 0.1). Although this was a small sample population, meloxicam given to assisted calves at birth improved ADG in the first week of life, which may indicate an important production management tool for improving well-being in assisted calves.

A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of administering a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug to beef calves assisted at birth and risk factors associated with passive immunity, health, and growth

“…Studies investigating physiological impacts of administering an NSAID to calves at birth have not shown an effect. Pearson and others21 found no significant effect on physiological indicators of pain and inflammation in meloxicam‐treated calves in comparison with placebo‐treated calves. Similarly, Gladden and others27 found no significant effect of administering ketoprofen to dairy calves within three hours of parturition on cortisol, creatine kinase, plasma L‐lactate, or total protein concentration measured 24 hours, 48 hours, or seven days after birth.…”

“…Similarly, Gladden and others27 found no significant effect of administering ketoprofen to dairy calves within three hours of parturition on cortisol, creatine kinase, plasma L-lactate, or total protein concentration measured 24 hours, 48 hours, or seven days after birth. In contrast, economically relevant factors such as increased growth or feed intake have been demonstrated in NSAID-treated neonatal calves 19 21 28. Specifically, Murray and colleagues19 found that calves treated with meloxicam at birth had greater milk intake compared with calves treated with a placebo, and Pearson and colleagues21 found that assisted calves administered meloxicam at birth had greater ADG within the first week of life compared with placebo-treated calves.…”

“…Although a few studies have investigated the effects of administering an NSAID to neonatal calves, none has reported pathological side effects 19–21 27 28. Several studies have investigated the negative side effects of NSAIDs in neonatal foals, indicating repeated and higher doses of flunixin meglumine associated with stomach ulcerations and petechiations of the caecum and colon,51 but no side effects were found with daily administration of meloxicam in foals two to three days old 52.…”

“…Meloxicam is a COX2 preferential inhibitor NSAID, so it causes fewer negative side effects and has high bioavailability with a prolonged half-life in comparison with other NSAIDs 18. A few studies have shown positive effects of administering an NSAID at birth to dairy and beef calves,19–21 but a large-scale field trial that accounts for confounding risk factors and ranch management is needed.…”

Quantifying the Forces Applied During Manually and Mechanically Assisted Calvings in Beef Cattle

“…The field study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care with approval granted on January 5, 2016 by the University of Calgary Veterinary Sciences Animal Care Committee (AC15-0150). Data were collected during the 2016 calving season (January to May) from two ranches in southern Alberta, Canada from cow-calf pairs that were enrolled as previously described ( 26 ). Twenty-five heifers (Ranch A = 16; Ranch B = 9) assisted in delivery of their calf using the modified obstetrical chains were enrolled.…”