Table 2.
Least squares means for the effect of pain treatment options on the growth, algometry, thermography, and specific blood constituent concentrations of 3-d-old Holstein calves disbudded with caustic paste (N = 61)
| Treatment1 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent variable | CONTROL (n = 16) | SHAM (n = 15) | M1 (n = 15) | M2 (n = 15) | SE | P-value |
| Growth | ||||||
| ADG, kg | 0.3 | 0.44 | 0.63 | 0.53 | 0.4 | 0.7445 |
| BW, kg | 44.8 | 44.9 | 43.4 | 43.3 | 1.9 | 0.3193 |
| Horn bud algometry | ||||||
| Mean MNT, kgf | 6.57ab | 7.41a | 6.26b | 7.20ab | 0.30 | 0.0212 |
| Ocular thermography | ||||||
| Maximum OT, °C | 36.21 | 36.28 | 35.97 | 36.03 | 0.23 | 0.1281 |
| Blood constituents | ||||||
| Cortisol, ng/mL | 52.60 | 57.25 | 47.59 | 55.91 | 6.25 | 0.2574 |
| Substance P, pg/mL | 164.47ab | 198.53a | 144.50b | 144.74ab | 12.30 | 0.0058 |
a,bMeans with like superscripts within each row do not differ (P > 0.05).
1Treatments: 1) M1, caustic paste disbudding and oral meloxicam (45 mg) with a placebo 24 h later; 2) M2, treatment M1 followed by a second 45-mg dose of meloxicam 24 h later instead of placebo; 3) CONTROL, treatment M1 with placebo in place of meloxicam; and 4) SHAM, sham disbudding with placebo in place of meloxicam.