Acute cortisol responses of calves to four methods of dehorning by amputation.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the plasma cortisol response in calves dehorned by four different methods (scoop, guillotine shears, saw, embryotomy wire) for 9 h after dehorning.


METHODS
A physiological study with controls.


METHODS
Horn amputation was carried out on calves restrained manually in a race.


RESULTS
The four methods of dehorning provoked similarly increased cortisol responses which lasted for 6 h. During the first hour after dehorning the plasma cortisol concentrations were similar to those following ACTH injection. The overall cortisol response to control handling was about 30% of the responses to dehorning.


CONCLUSIONS
The similarity of the cortisol responses produced by the four methods of dehorning suggests that the distress experienced by calves following dehorning by amputation is similar regardless of method used.
Sylvester
S P
SP
Department of Physiology and Anatomy, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Stafford
K J
KJ
Mellor
D J
DJ
Bruce
R A
RA
Ward
R N
RN
D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006733:Horns / Q000601:surgery*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors
D006854:Hydrocortisone