109
Views
23
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Short Communication

Effects of shallow scoop and deep scoop dehorning on plasma cortisol concentrations in calves

, , , , &
Pages 72-74 | Accepted 20 Dec 1996, Published online: 22 Feb 2011
 

Abstract

Scoop dehorning is one method of horn amputation. Plasma cortisol concentrations were used to investigate the effects of wound depth caused by shallow scoop and deep scoop dehorning on the acute pain-induced distress experienced by 15week-old calves during the first 9 hours following horn amputation. Shallow scoop and deep scoop dehorning caused a prolonged cortisol elevation which returned to control values within 8 hours and 6 hours, respectively. There were no significant differences between shallow and deep dehorning with regard to mean plasma cortisol concentrations and integrated cortisol responses during the 9 hours after dehorning. Linear regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between wound depth and integrated cortisol response. Hence, at the investigated scoop wound depths, there was no detectable benefit in implementing a shallow scoop strategy in order to reduce acute pain-induced distress caused by scoop dehorning in 15week-old calves.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.