Disbudding of calves to prevent horn growth is one of the most painful routine husbandry procedures in cattle, and improved analgesia protocols are transforming the welfare of this common practice.
Disbudding without adequate analgesia is one of the most acute sources of pain routinely inflicted on farm animals. Research using validated pain indicators shows that calves without pain relief experience severe pain during and following disbudding that persists for several days. The procedure is legally required to be performed by or under veterinary supervision with pain relief in the UK, but compliance and enforcement have historically been inadequate. Multi-modal pain relief — local anaesthetic block for the acute phase plus oral NSAID for post-procedural pain — dramatically reduces suffering. The increasing availability of polled genetics offers the prospect of eliminating the need for disbudding entirely through breed selection, representing the most complete welfare solution.