Evaluation of horn bud wound healing following cautery disbudding of pre-weaned dairy calves treated with aluminum-based aerosol bandage

Abstract Text:

Dehorning pain management has been extensively studied, though few studies have evaluated the effects of cautery disbudding on wound healing. Inflammation and delayed healing are common post-disbudding, with undocumented significance for health. Our objective was to determine healing following disbudding with or without treatment using topical aluminum-based aerosol bandage (ALU).  In a prospective study, Holstein heifer calves raised at 3 commercial dairy farms were disbudded within 3 weeks of life. Local anesthesia and analgesia were performed prior to disbudding, and ALU treatment was randomly allocated to the right or left bud within each calf. Disbudding site (DS) healing was evaluated thereafter on a weekly basis for 3 weeks and lesion score (LS) was categorized as: 1) no scab or discharge; 2) dried scabs; and 3) purulent discharge. LS was dichotomized (normal: LS = 1; and abnormal: LS > 2) to facilitate analysis and interpretation of results and logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05 and tendency was considered when 0.05 < P< 0.10.  In total, 220 calves were enrolled. There was no difference in LS between groups during the first two weeks post-disbudding, but at the third week post-disbudding the proportion of LS = 3  was greater for control DS compared to ALU (16.8% vs. 8.1%, respectively; P = 0.02). Similarly, the odds of having LS > 2 were only different during the third week post-disbudding with control DS being 1.42 times more likely to have LS > 2 than ALU treated DS (95% CI = 0.964 – 2.10; P = 0.07).  Abnormal healing during week 1 increased the odds of having abnormal healing in week 2 (OR = 5.36; 95% CI = 2.96 – 9.69; P < 0.01), likewise abnormal healing during week 2 increased the odds of abnormal healing during week 3 (OR = 4.22; 95% CI = 2.72 – 6.54; P< 0.01).  A reduction in LS at the third week post-disbudding was observed when using ALU. Once abnormal healing started, it increased the likelihood of abnormal healing later. Discharge and/or scabs may be a part of the normal healing process; however, in this study, it was considered abnormal since no cultures were performed to rule out DS infection. Our data indicates that use of ALU may benefit healing after cautery disbudding in pre-weaned dairy calves. 

Keywords: dairy calves, dehorning, wound healing, well-being