Published on Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance (https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance)

Home > #BehindtheNumbers: Alliance-funded research contributes to new on-farm pain management protocol to improve calf welfare

#BehindtheNumbers: Alliance-funded research contributes to new on-farm pain management protocol to improve calf welfare

Submitted by jdavie15 on February 12th, 2021 10:02 AM
This image shows black beef cattle eating. The accompanying text reads Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance 2019-20 Annual Report. "78 new projects: Research projects awarded operating funding to drive innovation in the agri-food sector."

Dairy calves are an integral part of Ontario’s $2.2-billion dairy industry. Access to a world-class research and innovation system — including the Ontario Dairy Research Centre and six Alliance-funded projects over 18 years — resulted in better on-farm pain management practices during disbudding (the process of removing the horn bud in young calves for the safety of other cows and farm staff) and the licensing of a new pain management drug in Europe and Canada. Long-term Alliance investment helped identify and promote the new pain management  protocol. Here’s how this research has made an impact on Ontario farms.

More producers and vets use a nerve block (e.g, Lidocaine) during disbudding

  • Producers: from 22 per cent in 2004 to 62 per cent in 2014
  • Vets: from 92 per cent in 2004 to 97 per cent in 2014

More producers and vets use NSAID pain control post-disbudding

  • Producers: from 0 per cent in 2004 to 24 per cent in 2014
  • Vets: From 2 per cent in 2004 to 48 per cent in 2014

New two-part pain management best practice

  • Required on all Canadian dairy farms via a national dairy standard called proAction®

New U of G online training module teaches students and producers how to use new pain management protocol

  • 150 veterinary students and 43 dairy producers have completed the online training

NSAID meloxicam licensed in Canada and Europe for use in calves thanks to Alliance-funded research

#BehindtheNumbers is a series of stories from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance 2019-20 Annual Report, Growing Ontario Solutions [1], that showcases how the Alliance drives impact in Ontario.

Keywords: 
Growing Ontario Solutions 2019-20
#BehindtheNumbers
Alliance Impact

Connect

  Questions or comments about our website? Please submit them using our web feedback form.

Contact us

1 Stone Road West, 2NW
Guelph ON N1G 4Y2

Office of Research, Agri-Food Partnership staff

Our vision

Our renewed vision: To invest in the knowledge, data and innovation necessary to:

  • Achieve assurance in food safety;
  • Protect animal, plant and public health and the environment;
  • Grow Ontario's capacity to produce food; and
  • Support a globally and domestically competitive agri-food sector

In partnership with

 

 

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs logo

 

 


Source URL: https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance/news/2021/02/behindthenumbers-alliance-funded-research-contributes-new-farm%C2%A0pain-management-protocol

Links
[1] https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance/news-events/publications