1 / 1

Testing a novel method to minimize pain due to processing in piglets

Testing a novel method to minimize pain due to processing in piglets. M.J. Séguin 1 , A. Livingston 2 , J. Alcorn 3 and J.M. Stookey 1 University of Saskatchewan 1 Large Animal Clinical Sciences , 2 Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and 3 College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. Methodology.

elsu
Download Presentation

Testing a novel method to minimize pain due to processing in piglets

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Testing a novel method to minimize pain due to processing in piglets M.J. Séguin1, A. Livingston2, J. Alcorn3 and J.M. Stookey1University of Saskatchewan 1Large Animal Clinical Sciences , 2Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and 3College of Pharmacy and Nutrition Methodology Introduction Progress Newborn piglets are subjected to multiple routine husbandry procedures such as tail docking, teeth clipping and castration, without attempts to alleviate the pain. These procedures are painful to piglets (Weary et al. 1998, AABS, 56:161-172) and the pain may persist for hours or days post-procedure (Noonan et al., 1994, AABS, 39:203-213; Hay et al. 2003, AABS, 82:201-218). Piglet well-being would be greatly improved if pain control measures were adopted by the industry. However, there are currently no practical or economical options available to producers. • Ten sows were administered a single intravenous dose of Anafen (15 mg/kg; Merial Canada), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on their 4th day of lactation. • Blood samples were collected from six sows over a 24 hour period post-injection from an ear vein catheter. • Milk samples were collected from four sows at four nursing intervals post-injection. • Plasma and milk samples are currently being analyzed by HPLC with UV detection for drug concentration. • It is easier to prevent pain rather than attempt to alleviate it. Therefore to maximize pain control, piglets should be given painkillers prior to the “insult” (i.e. castration, tail docking) rather than after. • There are two methods by which one could achieve this requirement; • Method 1 • This process is not very practical and can be quite time consuming in addition to increasing piglet stress due to the multiple handlings. • Method 2 • This process can reduce the labour commitment, is ergonomically and practically sound and requires handling the piglet only once. Re-handle piglet and process (i.e. castrate) Release piglet and wait a short period for analgesic to take effect Catch and restrain piglet Administer analgesic to each piglet individually Implications The use of a sow as a vehicle for drug transfer to piglets may prove to be an ergonomic way to mitigate the pain due to routine processing of piglets. Objectives Acknowledgements • Investigate the concept of delivering analgesics to piglets via the sow’s milk. • Determine the benefits of this drug administration route by measuring the behavioural responses of piglets during and after processing. Administer analgesic via a single injection to a newly lactating sow This study is being conducted at the Prairie Swine Centre and has received financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Wait for the analgesic to transfer to the piglets via the milk and for the drug to take effect Catch piglet and process (i.e. castrate)

More Related