We evaluated alternatives to
cautery disbudding of goat kids using physiological measures of immediate and longer-term
pain. Fifty Saanen doe kids were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments (n = 10/treatment): (1)
cautery disbudding (CAUT), (2)
caustic paste disbudding (CASP), (3) liquid
nitrogen disbudding (CRYO), (4)
clove oil injected into the horn bud (CLOV), or (5)
sham disbudding (
SHAM). Serum
cortisol and
haptoglobin concentrations were measured from blood samples collected immediately before treatment (baseline) and at 15, 30, 60, and 120 min and then again at 6 and 24 h post-treatment. An infrared thermography camera was used to take images of the horn buds 24 h pre- and 24, 48, and 72 h post-treatment to measure skin temperature.
Body weight was measured daily for 1 wk to assess weight change post-treatment. Images of the horn buds were taken at d 1, 2, and 7 and at 6 wk post-treatment to assess tissue damage and wound healing. Mean
cortisol concentrations were elevated in CASP kids 1 h post-treatment relative to CAUT kids.
Cortisol concentrations of CRYO kids were higher than those of CAUT kids 30 min post-treatment; concentrations for CLOV kids were similar to CAUT kids post-treatment. Mean
haptoglobin concentrations were similar across treatments over time; however, CLOV kids had higher concentrations at 24 h post-treatment than all other treatments. Skin temperatures of CASP and CLOV kids were elevated relative to CAUT kids at all time points post-treatment, and all disbudded kids had skin temperatures above those of
SHAM kids at 72 h post-treatment. Treatment did not influence
weight gain. The CAUT kids had large, open
wounds exposing bone; small scabs were still evident 6 wk post-treatment. The CASP kids had red and open, raw
wounds that generated large eschars, apparent for up to 6 wk. The CRYO kids had closed, dry
wounds initially, but over time lesions appeared that caused open
wounds; small scabs were present 6 wk post-treatment. The CLOV kids had closed, dry
wounds with blackened skin; healed skin and minimal scabs were present 6 wk post-treatment.
Caustic paste and cryosurgical disbudding appeared to cause more
pain compared with
cautery disbudding; thus, these methods may not provide good alternatives to
cautery disbudding.
Clove oil appeared to cause a similar
pain response as
cautery disbudding and smaller
wounds with earlier tissue repair; this method shows promise as an alternative to
cautery disbudding.