title: [Impact of the simultaneous implementation of husbandry procedures on suckling piglets].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In addition to castration, further husbandry procedures are performed in piglets during the first week of life without anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pain-induced stress of the husbandry procedures castration, tail docking and ear tagging performed in piglets in combination in comparison with castration or handling alone. Furthermore, the effect of the presurgical administration of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam alone or in combination with iron was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of pain and stress were evaluated based on cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, as well as from behavioural observations. The compatibility and the effect of combined drug administration were assessed, and the daily weight gain and blood iron level were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the application procedures, the slight changes observed at the iron injection site were reduced by 40% when using the mixture. After performing all three husbandry procedures without administration of meloxicam (KSO group), higher cortisol concentrations were induced for up to 4 hours compared to the handling (H) and castration (K) groups. In piglets receiving meloxicam or the mixture of iron and meloxicam presurgically, the cortisol concentration was significantly reduced for 0.5 hours after castration and up to 4 hours following all three husbandry procedures when compared to piglets without medication (groups K and KSO, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the blood cortisol concentration significantly rose due to multiple pain and distress when combining castration, ear tagging and tail docking. Application of meloxicam before performing these husbandry procedures reduced pain equally to its application before castration alone. The application of a mixed preparation of iron and meloxicam did not affect the efficacy of either drug and improved the local tolerance of the iron injection.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Übel
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susanne Zöls, Klinik für Schweine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Sonnenstraße 16, 85764 Oberschleißheim, E-Mail: s.zoels@lmu.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zöls
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter-Louis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinritzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritzmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eddicks
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004423:Ear / Q000601:surgery; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013623:Tail / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; ear tag; iron; meloxicam; piglet castration; tail docking