A topical anaesthestic wound formulation diminishes pain responses and improves wound healing of lambs at tail-docking

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Management and animal welfare Oral presentations A topical anaesthestic wound formulation diminishes pain responses and improves wound healing of lambs at tail-docking Ferrer, L.M.1, Lacasta, D.1, Ramos, J.J.1, Ortín, A.1, Tejedor, M.T.2, Castells, E.3, Ruiz de Arcaute, M.1, Pérez, M.1, Rubira, I.4 and Windsor, P.A.5 1 Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza- CITA), Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet 177. 50013 Zaragoza, Spain 2 Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics Department, CIBER CV (Universidad de Zaragoza-IIS), Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet 177. 50013 Zaragoza, Spain 3 Centro Clínico Veterinario, C/ Madre Genoveva Torres Morales, 8, 50006 Zaragoza, Spain 4 Gabinete técnico Veterinario S.L. C/ Isla conejera s/n. 50013 Zaragoza, Spain 5 Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW | 2570, Australia Contact: dlacasta@unizar.es Abstract: Tail docking is a painful husbandry practice performed routinely in sheep production worldwide. We examined two different procedures for surgical tail docking; with and without general anaesthesia (GA), including the use of a topical wound gel formulation to alleviate pain and improve healing after surgery, containing local anaesthetics lignocaine and bupivacaine, with cetrimide and adrenalin (Tri-Solfen®; TS). Forty-four female lambs with similar weights were recruited into four equal cohorts: Groups A and C, the tail was excised with a scalpel without anaesthesia and Groups B and D, the tail was surgically excised and stitched under GA. C and D groups were immediately treated with TS. Pain-related behaviour was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS) developed previously. A trained scientist blinded to

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diately treated with TS. Pain-related behaviour was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS) developed previously. A trained scientist blinded to treatment observed the lambs immediately (T0), 2.5h (T1) and 5h (T2) after tail docking. Following the procedure, the animals were examined daily for 15 days, with lesions photographed. This enabled analysis of wound healing after tail- docking and the detection of secondary infections. Behavioural observations identified that groups without GA (A & C) displayed significantly less pain-related behaviours immediately after the procedure, especially if treated with TS (C). Similarly, the mean of days when animals showed no signs of wound infection was longer in the groups not undergoing GA, especially in those treated with TS. Surgical tail-docking without GA but where wounds are immediately sprayed with TS is an affordable and welfare appropriate method of conducting tail docking in lambs, avoiding the unnecessary use of antibiotics. References: Lomax, S., Sheil, M. and Windsor, P.A., 2008. Impact of topical anaesthesia on pain alleviation and wound healing in lambs after mulesing. Australian Veterinary Journal 86, 159–168. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2008.00285.x. Lomax, S., Dickson, H., Sheil, M. and Windsor, P.A., 2010. Topical anaesthesia alleviates short-term pain of castration and tail docking in lambs. Australian Veterinary Journal 88, 67–74. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00546.x. Orihuela. A. and Ungerfeld. R., 2019. Tail docking in sheep (Ovis aries): A review on the arguments for and against the procedure, advantages/disadvantages, methods, and new evidence to revisit the topic. Livestock Science 230, 103837. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103837. Genetic Resources (2021) S1 International Congress on Sheep and

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o revisit the topic. Livestock Science 230, 103837. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103837. Genetic Resources (2021) S1 International Congress on Sheep and Goats 60 Abstract book