Effect of oral meloxicam on health and performance of beef steers relative to bulls castrated on arrival at the feedlot1

Abstract

Castration in weaned calves is stressful and affects profitability by reducing ADG and increasing susceptibility to disease. This study evaluated the effect of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on performance and health of calves received as steers compared with bull calves surgically castrated on arrival at the feedlot. British × Continental bulls (n = 145) and steers (n = 113; BW = 193 to 285 kg) were transported for 12 h in 3 truckloads (d 0), weighed, and randomly assigned to receive either lactose placebo (CONT; 1 mg/kg) or meloxicam (MEL; 1 mg/kg) suspended in water and administered per os, 24 h before castration. On d 1, bulls were surgically castrated (CAST) and steers were processed without castration (STR). Combinations of CONT/MEL and CAST/STR were allocated to 24 pens (6 pens per treatment) of 8 to 14 calves each. Pen was the experimental unit. Plasma meloxicam concentrations at the time of castration (d 1) were determined by HPLC-mass spectroscopy. Pen-level ADG, DMI, and G:F were estimated using BW obtained on d 0, 14, and 28 and weigh-back of feed. Individual animals were classified as sick based on a depression score of ≥2 on a 5-point scale and a rectal temperature of ≥39.8°C. On d 0, 1, and 14, calf chute temperament was evaluated using a 4-point scale. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models and survival curve analyses. Castration reduced pen ADG (P < 0.001) and G:F (P < 0.001) from d 1 to 14, yet no effects (P > 0.45) were apparent by d 28. For all treatment groups, DMI increased with days on feed (P < 0.0001) but was less in CAST compared with STR calves (P < 0.016) throughout the study. From d 15 to 28, ADG increased (P = 0.0011) in CAST but not STR calves, and G:F decreased (P = 0.0004) in STR but not CAST calves. In CAST calves only, MEL treatment reduced the pen-level first pull rate (P = 0.04) and reduced bovine respiratory disease morbidity rate (P = 0.03). The frequency of chute escape behavior was greater on arrival and at castration in CAST vs. STR calves (P < 0.01) but not significantly different at d 14 (P = 0.22). Mean MEL concentrations at castration were no different between treated STR and CAST calves (P = 0.70). Meloxicam administration before castration in postweaning calves reduced the incidence of respiratory disease at the feedlot. These findings have implications for developing NSAID protocols for use in calves at castration with respect to addressing animal health and welfare concerns. ABSTRACT: Castration in weaned calves is stressful and affects profitability by reducing ADG and increasing susceptibility to disease. This study evaluated the effect of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on performance and health of calves received as steers compared with bull calves surgically castrated on arrival at the feedlot. British × Continental bulls (n = 145) and steers (n = 113; BW = 193 to 285 kg) were transported for 12 h in 3 truckloads (d 0), weighed, and randomly assigned to receive either lactose pla...

Remote Noninvasive Assessment of Pain and Health Status in Cattle

“…11 Scoring systems that assign a value based on degrees of illness are relatively common, 12 and are frequently used in disease research. 3,10,13 Even when quantitative measurements, such as rectal temperature, are combined with subjective assessment, the final disease classification remains subjective. 14,15 This subjectivity may impact how the results are interpreted if the CIS is used as one of the criteria in a treatment or preventative health program.…”

Randomised trial of the bioavailability and efficacy of orally administered flunixin, carprofen and ketoprofen in a pain model in sheep

“…The study animals were 40 18-month-old Merino ewes with an average weight of 31.4 ± 0.5 kg.Methods Treatment was given orally at 24 h intervals for 6 days at dose rates expected to achieve therapeutic levels in sheep: carprofen (8.0 mg/kg), ketoprofen (8.0 mg/kg) and flunixin (4.0 mg/kg). Oil of turpentine (0.1 mL) was injected into a forelimb of each sheep to induce inflammation and pain; responses (force plate pressure, skin temperature, limb circumference, haematology and plasma cortisol) were measured at 0, 3,6,9,12,24,36, 48, 72 and 96 h post-injection. NSAID concentrations were determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography.…”

“…Literature on the efficacy of orally administered NSAIDs in sheep is limited, although this route has been examined in cattle. 23,24 Odensvik reported that the bioavailability of flunixin when administered orally as granules to cattle was 60% of that attained following intravenous injection. 25 This reduced bioavailability is probably related to the influence of the rumen 26 and has led others to double the dose used non-parenterally in studies of orally delivered NSAIDs in cattle.…”

“…25 This reduced bioavailability is probably related to the influence of the rumen 26 and has led others to double the dose used non-parenterally in studies of orally delivered NSAIDs in cattle. 24 If NSAIDs can be shown to alleviate pain and inflammation when administered orally in sheep, it may be applicable to incorporate them in feed, providing producers with a quick and easy method of delivering extended pain relief to sheep following painful husbandry procedures.…”

Cattle handling technique can induce fatigued cattle syndrome in cattle not fed a beta adrenergic agonist1

“…In livestock species, substance P has been used as an indicator of physiological response to painful procedures, such as dehorning and castration (Coetzee et al, 2008;Coetzee et al, 2012aCoetzee et al, , 2012b. This study showed no difference in SUBP between LSH and AH cattle or between NEXH and EXH cattle, but this does not necessarily indicate a lack of pain, as not all studies of painful procedures show a difference in SUBP (Mintline et al, 2014).…”