The aim of this research was to evaluate the physiological and behavioural parameters in Saanen goat kids treated with
flunixin meglumine compared with no
analgesic treatment after
cautery disbudding using a device fueled by
propane gas. At 7 days of age, 30 goat kids were randomly allocated to three groups:
Sham (Sh) control, (i.e., simulating disbudding); Disbudding (Di), using thermal
cauterization; Disbudding + Flunixin (DiFl), thermal cauterization + flunixin
meglumine (2.2 mg/kg
body weight, 15 min before treatment). Each kid was video-recorded for 30 min before and
after treatment to evaluate the frequency of head shaking, head scratching, body shaking, grooming, head rubbing, jumping, running, and bleating. Blood samples were taken 30 min after disbudding to evaluate serum
cortisol concentrations and white blood cell count. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured using a
stethoscope. Liveweight of goat kids was recorded at birth, -24 h and 7 days
after treatment, and at 25 days of age. The mean frequency of head shaking and head scratching was higher (p = 0.0001) after disbudding in Di (37.5 ± 47.8 and 33.32 ± 31.2) group compared to Sh (3.42 ± 3.58 and 2.2 ± 1.8) and DiFl, (4.02 ± 2.76 and 4.42 ± 3.72) groups. The frequency of jumping was higher (p = 0.022) for Di (3.74 ± 2.24) than that of DiFl (0.39 ± 0.92). The remaining behaviours did not show differences (p > 0.05). HR and RR were higher (HR: p < 0.0048; RR: p < 0.035) in group Di (HR: 156 ± 13.6; RR: 66 ± 14.8) than in Sh (HR: 138 ± 8.48; RR: 55.6 ± 5.4) and in DiFl (HR: 136 ± 6.38; RR: 52.8 ± 4.13). No differences were detected between live weight, serum
cortisol and white blood cell count data (p > 0.05). Results show that
flunixin meglumine was effective at reducing
pain-related behaviours when given at the time of disbudding.