John Campbell, a professor of large animal clinical sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, shares his observations in an article published on the Grainews portal about the common practice of castration in large cattle. The research, conducted by the Canadian Beef Research Council in collaboration with the Canfax agricultural service, included responses from about 600 cattle producers from different regions of the country. The results showed that about 80% of producers used band castration, while 18% preferred surgical castration for bull calves.
Interestingly, about 85% of cattle producers in Canada performed castration on bull calves within the first three months of their lives, which is in line with the recommendations of the Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. Early castration is considered an effective way to reduce pain and suffering in animals.
The survey also revealed that many producers use pain mitigation measures during castration. Nearly half of the respondents reported using such measures, with around 26% using analgesics constantly, and another 20% depending on the age and method of castration.
Interesting data was obtained from a study conducted on bull calves. The study showed that using local anesthesia in combination with an anti-inflammatory drug during castration significantly reduces the animals' pain response. It was also noted that calves receiving local anesthesia were more active and stayed closer to their mothers after castration, indicating more comfortable conditions.
This study confirms that the use of local anesthesia complements the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs and is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure the comfort and well-being of calves during castration. John Campbell concludes that producers who have started using analgesics rarely discontinue them, as the results are clear, and they see the benefits for their animals.