title: An assessment of the impact of rumenocentesis on pain and stress in cattle and the effect of local anaesthesia.
abstract: Rumenocentesis is commonly used to collect rumen fluid to screen for acidosis. This study was designed to investigate whether rumenocentesis induced pain and stress and, if so, whether local anaesthesia could limit this. Twenty-four dairy cows were assigned to one of three treatments: (1) rumenocentesis with local anaesthesia (AR); (2) rumenocentesis without local anaesthesia (R); and (3) local anaesthesia only (A). Treatments were performed in a restraining cage. The cows were placed in the cage on three consecutive days and anaesthesia and/or rumenocentesis was performed on the second day. Blood samples for cortisol determination and heart rate were recorded from 0.25 h before treatment until 4h after. Behaviour was noted while the cows were caged. Feed intake and milk production were measured the week before treatment, on the day of treatment, and the day after. With all three treatments, cortisol concentrations and heart rate were increased while cows were in the cage. Cortisol, cardiac and behavioural responses were not significantly higher in the R and AR treatments than the A group. Cortisol concentrations and heart rate did not change between days. Feed intake and milk production were unaffected by the treatments. It was concluded that rumenocentesis does not appear more stressful than local anaesthesia or handling.
authors.affiliation: UR1213, INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), Unité de Recherches sur les Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France. marie-madeleine.richard@clermont.inra.fr
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mialon
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deiss
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andanson
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anglard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doreau
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Veissier
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000662:veterinary*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002417:Cattle / Q000601:surgery*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012417:Rumen / Q000601:surgery*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D006854:Hydrocortisone