Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Much research has assessed methods of pain control for cattle castration, but there remains a lack of consensus regarding best practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research including both an untreated control (i.e. castrated without pain mitigation) and at least...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Welfare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S096272862510016X/type/journal_article |
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| author | Emeline Nogues Jane Stojkov Biljana Jonoska Stojkova Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk Daniel M. Weary |
| author_facet | Emeline Nogues Jane Stojkov Biljana Jonoska Stojkova Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk Daniel M. Weary |
| author_sort | Emeline Nogues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Much research has assessed methods of pain control for cattle castration, but there remains a lack of consensus regarding best practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research including both an untreated control (i.e. castrated without pain mitigation) and at least one unimodal or multimodal analgesia treatment (i.e. castrated with a local anaesthetic alone, or in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) to summarise findings on castration pain management. Studies were included if they castrated by surgery, elastration or crushing, and reported at least one of the following outcomes: cortisol, change in bodyweight, foot stomping, wound licking, a subjective assessment of pain using a visual analogue scale, or stride length. Our search identified 383 publications, of which 17 were eligible for inclusion. Most publications focused on surgical castration (n = 14), and the most frequently reported outcome was blood cortisol (n = 13). None of the included studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias, mostly due to a lack of reporting blinding procedures and reasons for missing data. Using a three-level random effect model, we concluded that multimodal analgesia reduced blood cortisol concentrations in the first hour following surgical castration in comparison to the control group; this effect was diminished but still evident at 3 and 4 h, but not beyond at 6, 12 and 24 h. Too few data were available to meaningfully assess other outcomes and methods. Variability in methods and outcomes between studies, and risks of bias, hinder our capacity to provide science-based recommendations for best practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-812924b4d9964a85b9d426cea0f8d18e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Animal Welfare |
| spelling | doaj-art-812924b4d9964a85b9d426cea0f8d18e2025-08-20T02:21:20ZengCambridge University PressAnimal Welfare0962-72862054-15382025-01-013410.1017/awf.2025.10016Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysisEmeline Nogues0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6040-5833Jane Stojkov1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0806-2391Biljana Jonoska Stojkova2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5178-9433Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1427-3152Daniel M. Weary4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0917-3982Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, https://ror.org/03rmrcq20 The University of British Columbia , 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, CanadaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, https://ror.org/03rmrcq20 The University of British Columbia , 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, CanadaApplied Statistics and Data Science Group, Department of Statistics, https://ror.org/03rmrcq20 The University of British Columbia , 3178-2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, CanadaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, https://ror.org/03rmrcq20 The University of British Columbia , 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, CanadaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, https://ror.org/03rmrcq20 The University of British Columbia , 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, CanadaMuch research has assessed methods of pain control for cattle castration, but there remains a lack of consensus regarding best practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research including both an untreated control (i.e. castrated without pain mitigation) and at least one unimodal or multimodal analgesia treatment (i.e. castrated with a local anaesthetic alone, or in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) to summarise findings on castration pain management. Studies were included if they castrated by surgery, elastration or crushing, and reported at least one of the following outcomes: cortisol, change in bodyweight, foot stomping, wound licking, a subjective assessment of pain using a visual analogue scale, or stride length. Our search identified 383 publications, of which 17 were eligible for inclusion. Most publications focused on surgical castration (n = 14), and the most frequently reported outcome was blood cortisol (n = 13). None of the included studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias, mostly due to a lack of reporting blinding procedures and reasons for missing data. Using a three-level random effect model, we concluded that multimodal analgesia reduced blood cortisol concentrations in the first hour following surgical castration in comparison to the control group; this effect was diminished but still evident at 3 and 4 h, but not beyond at 6, 12 and 24 h. Too few data were available to meaningfully assess other outcomes and methods. Variability in methods and outcomes between studies, and risks of bias, hinder our capacity to provide science-based recommendations for best practice.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S096272862510016X/type/journal_articleAnalgesiaanimal welfarelocal blockNSAIDorchiectomypain |
| spellingShingle | Emeline Nogues Jane Stojkov Biljana Jonoska Stojkova Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk Daniel M. Weary Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis Animal Welfare Analgesia animal welfare local block NSAID orchiectomy pain |
| title | Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Efficacy of pain management for cattle castration: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | efficacy of pain management for cattle castration a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Analgesia animal welfare local block NSAID orchiectomy pain |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S096272862510016X/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emelinenogues efficacyofpainmanagementforcattlecastrationasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT janestojkov efficacyofpainmanagementforcattlecastrationasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT biljanajonoskastojkova efficacyofpainmanagementforcattlecastrationasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT marinaagvonkeyserlingk efficacyofpainmanagementforcattlecastrationasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT danielmweary efficacyofpainmanagementforcattlecastrationasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |