A comparative physiological and behavioral study of freeze and hot-iron branding using dairy cows.
A public debate has recently arisen, largely surrounding the issue of pain, over whether freeze or hot-iron branding should be the preferred method of permanently identifying cattle. This study addressed that question by quantifying the following accepted measures of distress and pain over a 25-min sampling period: elevated heart rate, concentrations of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, and escape-avoidance reactions and vocalizations. Twenty-four dairy cows (15 Holsteins and 9 Jerseys) were assigned to one of three treatments: freeze-branded (F), hot-iron-branded (H), or sham-branded (S), in which a room-temperature brander was applied. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations showed no discernible trends. Plasma cortisol concentrations were elevated in the F and H cows from 5.5 min to 25.5 min postbranding (P = .04). Heart rate, analyzed as a proportion of the prebranding mean, showed that H cows had a greater, more acute, response than did F cows (P = .04), which exhibited a more prolonged response (P = .07). No cows vocalized during branding; however, H cows had a greater escape-avoidance reaction toward branding than did the F and S cows. Both methods of branding produced elevated heart rates and cortisol concentrations indicative of pain sensations. Because the cows exhibited a greater escape-avoidance reaction and heart rate proportions to hot-iron branding, freeze banding would be preferable to hot-iron branding when feasible.
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Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471.
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Bowers
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Grissom
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Jenkins
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D000823:Animal Identification Systems / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006339:Heart Rate; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine