Wound characteristics after disbudding: Part I and part II

Part I: Disbudding is a common painful procedure in dairy calves. Farms vary in method (hot iron or paste), whether horn bud hair is shaved, or the quantity of paste applied, for example. Yet, little research compares the effects of differing paste applications. Our objective was to assess the effects of dose and shaving horn bud hair on caustic paste disbudding outcomes including disturbance from rubbing, wound size, sensitivity, healing time, horn regrowth, and the need for removal with a 2nd procedure. Female Holstein calves were assigned to 1 of 4 caustic paste treatments (n = 24-25/treatment): 0.2 or 0.3 mL on either shaved or unshaved horn buds, respectively (0.2 Unshaved, 0.2 Shaved, 0.3 Unshaved, 0.3 Shaved). Before disbudding at 3 d of age, calves received a local block and systemic pain relief. Wound tissues and regrowth were scored 1-2x/wk until fully healed. Wound depth, diameter, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) to evaluate sensitivity were measured approximately..., The methodological details are described in the two associated publications. , , # Data from: Wound characteristics after disbudding: Part I and part II

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Data were collected from 149 Holstein heifers. Calves were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments (n = 24-25/treatment): 1) hot-iron disbudding with a 12.7 mm tip leaving the bud in, 2) 0.2 mL paste on unshaved horn buds 3) 0.2 mL paste on shaved horn buds, 4) 0.3 mL paste on unshaved horn buds, 5) 0.3 mL paste on shaved horn buds, 6) non-disbudded control group. Treatments were assigned in blocks of 6 using a random number generator without replacement (represented as \"Block\" in the Excel files). On d 3 of life, pain relief was provided, disbudding was carried out according to the calf's treatment or a sham procedure was performed. For paste disbudded calves, removal of the paste by rubbing on the hutch or another body part was scored at 1 and 4 h after application as \"Rubbing\". When applicable, disbudding wounds were scored for the presence/absence o...,