Wound healing and pain sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves

Caustic paste disbudding is increasing in popularity on commercial dairy farms in the U.S., but little research has explored the pain and welfare implications beyond the acute period of this procedure. Researchers have reported it takes 7 to 9 wk, on average, for hot-iron disbudding wounds to re-epithelialize in dairy calves. Our objective was to describe wound healing and sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding. Jersey and Holstein female calves were disbudded using Dr. Naylor’s caustic paste at 3 d of age (n = 18) while control calves received a sham procedure (n = 15). Before disbudding, calves received a local block and an NSAID. Calves ≥ 34 kg and < 34 kg at birth had 0.3 or 0.25 ml of paste applied per unshaved horn bud, respectively. Following disbudding, wounds were scored 2x/wk for the presence/absence of 8 tissue categories including the final stages: new epithelium and fully healed. Control calves were removed from the experiment after 6 wk to be hot-iron disbudded ..., Please see the description in the associated research publication. , Please see the included README file.