@article{merenda_wagner_arruda_soriano_montgomery_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2022, title={Impact of transdermal flunixin administration on serum prostaglandin E-2 and cortisol concentrations in piglets following castration}, volume={83}, ISSN={["1943-5681"]}, DOI={10.2460/ajvr.21.12.0201}, abstractNote={Abstract OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of transdermal flunixin administration on serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cortisol concentrations in piglets undergoing castration. ANIMALS 104 litters with at least 4 male piglets/litter. PROCEDURES Litters were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: transdermal flunixin (3.33 mg/kg) administration followed by surgical castration (CF; n = 28), transdermal flunixin administration followed by sham castration (SF; n = 26), application of physiologic saline solution followed by sham castration (S; n = 26), and application of physiologic saline solution followed by surgical castration (C; n = 24). Blood samples were collected 24 hours before and 1, 4, and 25 hours after castration or sham castration. RESULTS Serum PGE2 concentrations for piglets in the C and CF groups did not differ at any time. Piglets in the S group tended to have higher serum PGE2 concentrations 1 hour after sham castration compared with piglets in the SF group. One hour after the procedure, piglets that underwent castration had higher serum cortisol concentrations than did piglets that underwent sham castration. Piglets in the CF group had higher serum cortisol concentrations than did piglets in the SF group 4 hours after the procedure, but serum cortisol concentrations did not differ between the C and S groups. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Further studies are needed to explore dosing regimens, including effective doses and administration frequencies, and the pharmacokinetics of flunixin following transdermal administration in piglets undergoing castration. }, number={9}, journal={AMERICAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH}, author={Merenda, Victoria R. and Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Arruda, Andreia G. and Soriano, Magdiel Lopez and Montgomery, Shawnee and Coetzee, Johann F. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2022}, month={Sep} } @article{kramer_wagner_moeller_bowman_kieffer_arruda_cressman_pairis-garcia_2022, title={Technical Note: Validation of the effectiveness of electric stunning for euthanasia of mature swine (Sus scrofa domesticus)}, volume={100}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skac072}, abstractNote={Abstract Electrocution and the use of a penetrating captive bolt gun (PCBG) are both acceptable methods of euthanasia for market weight swine. Research has demonstrated that a PCBG is effective in both growing and mature swine. Given limited to no published research base on electrocution in mature swine, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of a two-stage (head only followed by head to heart, 10 s contact for each) mobile electric stunner (E-STUN, Hubert HAAS TBG 96N) and to assess euthanasia outcomes when comparing E-STUN with the frontal placement of a heavy-duty PCBG (Jarvis, In-line Cylinder Style) when applied to heavy-weight (>200 kg) mature boars and sows. Effectiveness of the E-STUN and PCBG was evaluated first in unconscious anesthetized mature swine (n = 7 boars and sows per treatment; average weight 282 ± 48 kg, n = 28) to reduce the risk of failure in a conscious animal and then in conscious mature swine (n = 3 boars and sows per treatment; average weight 282 ± 63 kg, n = 12). Data from both stages were combined for analyses. Treatment efficacy was defined as any pig that achieved cardiac and respiratory arrest within 10 min after treatment application. A three-point traumatic brain injury score (0 = normal; 1 = some abnormalities; and 2 = grossly abnormal, unrecognizable) was used to evaluate six neuroanatomical structures (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, pons, and brain stem), and the presence of intracranial hemorrhage was also noted. All animals were immediately rendered insensible with E-STUN and PCBG, and no difference was noted between treatments for the detection of corneal reflex following treatment application (P = 0.11). Rhythmic breathing was absent following the administration of either E-STUN or PCBG. When evaluating the time to last heartbeat, there was a significant interaction between sex and treatment. Boars euthanized via E-STUN had a 346.8-s decrease in time to last heartbeat compared with boars euthanized via PCBG (P < 0.001), and females euthanized via E-STUN had a 479.3-s decrease in time to last heartbeat compared with females euthanized via PCBG (P < 0.001). Intracranial hemorrhage was common for both methods, and visible disruption of neural tissue was evident due to the physical nature of the PCBG. This study demonstrated that a mobile E-STUN system is as effective as a heavy-duty PCBG in inducing insensibility and death and shows promise as an alternative method for euthanizing mature pigs on-farm.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Kramer, Scott A. and Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Moeller, Steve J. and Bowman, Andrew S. and Kieffer, Justin D. and Arruda, Andreia Goncalves and Cressman, Michael D. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2022}, month={Apr} } @article{wagner_relling_kieffer_parker_2021, title={Brief communication: Plasma cortisol concentration is affected by lactation, but not intra-nasal oxytocin treatment, in beef cows}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0249323}, abstractNote={In mammals, including sheep and mice, lactation attenuates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and plasma cortisol concentration. Oxytocin, one neuropeptide present in the blood during lactation, may contribute to such stress attenuation. Providing oxytocin intra-nasally increases plasma oxytocin concentration in cattle and can be used in non-lactating cows to mirror plasma oxytocin concentration of lactating cows. Therefore, our hypothesis was that there would be no difference in plasma cortisol between non-lactating beef cows intra-nasally administered oxytocin and lactating beef cows intra-nasally treated with saline. TwentyBos tauruscows were randomly allocated by lactational status to one of four treatments, in a 2×2 factorial arrangement:1)Non-lactating, saline (NL-S; n = 5);2)Non-lactating, oxytocin (NL-OXT; n = 5);3)Lactating, saline (L-S; n = 5); and4)Lactating, oxytocin (L-OXT; n = 5). Two hours pre-treatment, cows were catheterized, moved to their appropriate chute and baseline blood samples were collected at -60, -45, -30, and 0 minutes before treatments were administered. Directly following the 0-minute sample, cows were administered their intra-nasal treatment via a mucosal atomization device. Subsequently, blood was collected at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 minutes. Non-lactating cows had greater (P= 0.02) plasma cortisol concentration compared with lactating cows. There was no lactation by treatment interactions for either plasma cortisol (P= 0.55) or oxytocin (P= 0.89) concentration. Although a treatment by time interaction was identified for oxytocin (P< 0.0001), there was no main effect of lactation on plasma oxytocin concentration (P= 0.34). Similar oxytocin and dissimilar cortisol concentration in lactating and non-lactating cows indicate that oxytocin alone cannot be responsible for reduced plasma cortisol in lactating ruminants. Further investigations are needed to elucidate alternative mechanisms that may be involved in the stress hypo-responsive condition of lactating mammals.}, number={7}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Relling, Alejandro E. and Kieffer, Justin D. and Parker, Anthony J.}, year={2021}, month={Jul} } @article{wagner_nixon_robles_baynes_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2021, title={Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Pharmacokinetics and Mitigation of Procedural-Pain in Cattle}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2076-2615"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/282}, DOI={10.3390/ani11020282}, abstractNote={Common routine management practices in cattle, such as castration and disbudding, are recognized as being painful. In the United States (U.S.), these procedures are frequently performed without pain mitigation and there are currently no drugs federally approved for such use. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as meloxicam, flunixin meglumine and aspirin, are the most commonly used analgesics in U.S. food-animal production systems. However, the body of research investigating the effectiveness of these pharmaceuticals to control pain in cattle at castration and disbudding has not been comprehensively evaluated. Therefore, this review examined existing literature to summarize meloxicam, flunixin and aspirin (1) pharmacokinetics (PK) and (2) administration outcome in regard to pain control during castration and disbudding procedures, in cattle. Following systematic searches and screening, 47 PK and 44 publications were extracted for data and are presented. The sample size contained notable variability and a general deficiency of validated and replicated methodologies for assessing pain in cattle remain substantial challenges within this research area. Future research should prioritize replication of pain assessment methodologies across different experimental conditions to close knowledge gaps identified by the present study and facilitate examination of analgesic efficacy.}, number={2}, journal={ANIMALS}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Nixon, Emma and Robles, Ivelisse and Baynes, Ronald E. and Coetzee, Johann F. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2021}, month={Feb} } @article{wagner_martin_rudd_parker_2021, title={Oxytocin alters leukogram composition in Bos indicus cattle exposed to short-duration transportation}, volume={61}, ISSN={["1836-5787"]}, DOI={10.1071/AN20393}, abstractNote={Context Transportation, a common practice in cattle production, activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, ultimately increasing glucocorticoids and altering the cellular immune system in cattle. Oxytocin attenuates the HPA axis in mammals. Intra-nasal oxytocin supplementation has been investigated in human and rodent models, revealing anxiolytic effects. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of exogenous oxytocin to mitigate stress and inflammatory responses in transported cattle. Aims We hypothesised that Bos indicus cattle treated with intra-nasal oxytocin would demonstrate more stable cortisol and inflammatory responses when subjected to handling and 6 h of road transportation compared with cattle treated with intra-nasal saline. Methods Thirty, Bos indicus steers were allocated to one of three treatments: (1) intra-nasal sterile saline and held in the yard for 6 h (S-NT; n = 10), (2) intra-nasal sterile saline and transported for 6 h (S-T; n = 10), and (3) intra-nasal oxytocin (0.3 IU/kg bodyweight) and transported for 6 h (OXT-T; n = 10). Blood was collected at 0, 6, 48, and 72 h and analysed for haematological parameters, cortisol, glucose and lactate. Key results A treatment × time effect (P < 0.05) was detected for lymphocytes and basophils, such that oxytocin helped maintain baseline counts. A treatment × time effect was detected for neutrophils and eosinophils such that counts were greater and lesser, respectively, directly following transport (P < 0.01) for transported treatments. Total leukocyte counts were not different between treatments (P = 0.96). No differences were observed between treatments or over time for plasma cortisol concentration (P = 0.46). A treatment × time interaction (P < 0.03) was detected for bodyweight such that transportation, independent of intra-nasal treatment, resulted in increased weight loss compared with the non-transported treatment. Conclusion Oxytocin altered circulating basophils in Bos indicus cattle exposed to short-duration transport. Although no effect on the HPA axis was detected via changes in cortisol concentration, road transport induced some signs of an acute inflammatory response directly following transportation. Implications Providing exogenous oxytocin improved the maintenance and recovery of some cellular immune system parameters in Bos indicus steers subject to short duration transport and more research is needed to explicate a more comprehensive understanding of such effects.}, number={13}, journal={ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE}, author={Wagner, B. K. and Martin, D. G. and Rudd, D. M. and Parker, A. J.}, year={2021}, pages={1315–1320} } @article{robles_arruda_nixon_johnstone_wagner_edwards-callaway_baynes_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2021, title={Producer and Veterinarian Perspectives towards Pain Management Practices in the US Cattle Industry}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2076-2615"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/209}, DOI={10.3390/ani11010209}, abstractNote={Producers and veterinarians are considered responsible for improving animal welfare, as they are responsible for implementing practices that directly impact the animal’s well-being. Most husbandry procedures performed in cattle do not include pain mitigation, and understanding challenges faced by these stakeholders to use analgesics is key in improving on-farm pain management strategies. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to explore producer and veterinarian perspectives on pain management practices by (1) exploring inquires received by Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) regarding analgesic use in cattle and (2) using a survey instrument to identify factors that impact pain management implementation in the US cattle industry. Albeit analgesia use increased in the past ten years for some producers and the majority of veterinarians, administering analgesics for pain management on US cattle farms remains a challenge. From a producer perspective, drug cost, availability and logistics for administration. From a veterinarian perspective, lack of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) products hinders the support of on-farm protocols requiring extra-label drug use. Future steps to improve analgesic use on-farm include identifying and approving drugs that demonstrate efficacy for managing pain in cattle and disseminating educational resources to support stakeholders in both the implementation and drug withdrawal process.}, number={1}, journal={ANIMALS}, author={Robles, Ivelisse and Arruda, Andreia G. and Nixon, Emma and Johnstone, Elizabeth and Wagner, Brooklyn and Edwards-Callaway, Lily and Baynes, Ronald and Coetzee, Johann and Pairis-Garcia, Monique}, year={2021}, month={Jan} } @article{robles_park_cramer_wagner_moraes_viscardi_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2021, title={Technical contribution: use of continuous recording video monitoring of maintenance and pain behaviors in piglets after surgical castration to validate six continuous time sampling periods for behavior scoring}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skab310}, abstractNote={AbstractCastration is a painful procedure routinely performed on piglets. Specific periods relative to castration and time sampling rules are used widely to quantify deviations in piglet’s behavior associated with castration rather than assessing behavior for the entire trial period. However, very limited work has evaluated time sampling recording rules to quantify behavioral changes to piglets undergoing castration. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate the accuracy of six continuous time sampling periods (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 min), to quantify piglet behavior post-castration when compared with a full 60-min observation period. Sixteen Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc piglets were surgically castrated. Data were collected using continuous observation (recording rule) of each individual male piglet per litter for 60-min post-castration. The 60-min continuous behavioral data set was then subdivided into six data subsets for each defined continuous time sampling period (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 min). Data from each continuous time sampling period and the full period data were analyzed using both a generalized linear mixed model and linear regression analysis. For the generalized linear mixed model, 30- and 45-min continuous time sampling periods were not different (P > 0.05) when compared with the full observation period data for all behaviors. For the linear regression analysis, affiliative interaction, sitting, walking, huddled up, prostrated, scratching, spasms, and trembling behaviors met the pairwise comparison accuracy criteria: [1) the coefficient of determination (R2) was > 0.90, 2) the intercept did not differ from 0 (P > 0.05), and 3) the slope did not differ from 1 (P > 0.05)] at the 45-min continuous time sampling period compared to full observation period. Results from this study suggest that a 45-min continuous time sampling period would be necessary to accurately investigate piglet behavior during the acute pain sensitivity time post-castration when considering both maintenance and pain-associated behaviors.}, number={11}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Robles, Ivelisse and Park, Rachel M. and Cramer, Catie M. and Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Moraes, Luis E. and Viscardi, Abbie V. and Coetzee, Johann F. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2021}, month={Nov} } @article{kramer_wagner_robles_moeller_bowman_kieffer_arruda_cressman_pairis-garcia_2021, title={Validating the effectiveness of alternative euthanasia techniques using penetrating captive bolt guns in mature swine (Sus scrofa domesticus)}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skab052}, abstractNote={Abstract Euthanasia of mature swine is challenging. Temporal and behind-the-ear locations are two sites that have been identified as alternatives to the more commonly used frontal placement. In stage one, the effectiveness of two penetrating captive bolt gun styles (cylinder or pistol) was evaluated using frontal, temporal, and behind-the-ear placement in anesthetized mature swine (n = 36; weight: 267 ± 41 kg). For stage one, when evaluating treatment efficacy by sex, the cylinder-style equipment was 100% effective in achieving death when applied to all cranial locations (frontal, temporal, and behind-the-ear) for sows; however, the pistol-style equipment was only 100% effective when applied at the behind-the-ear location for sows. For boars, the cylinder-style equipment was 100% effective when applied to the frontal and behind-the-ear location, but the pistol-style equipment was not effective for any cranial location in boars. Therefore, the pistol–frontal, pistol–temporal, pistol–behind-the-ear, and cylinder–temporal were not included for boars, and pistol–frontal and pistol–temporal were not included for sows in stage two. In stage two, commercial, mixed-breed, mature swine (n = 42; weight: 292 +/− 56 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments based on the inclusion criteria described in stage one. A three-point traumatic brain injury (TBI) score (0 = normal; 1 = some abnormalities; 2 = grossly abnormal, unrecognizable) was used to evaluate six neuroanatomical structures (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, pons, and brain stem), and the presence of hemorrhage was also noted. All treatments were 100% effective in stage two. A significant interaction between gun style and placement was determined on predicting total TBI as the cylinder style produced a higher total TBI score compared with the pistol type of the magnitude of +2.8 (P < 0.01). The cylinder style tended to produce a greater TBI score than the pistol in the temporal location (+1.2; P = 0.08). No difference was noted for TBI score behind-the-ear between the cylinder- and pistol-style gun (P > 0.05). TBI tended to be less in boars compared with sows (−0.6; P = 0.08). Hemorrhage was observed in frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. This study demonstrated that the cylinder-style captive bolt gun more effectively resulted in brain trauma and death compared with a pistol-style gun and the behind-the-ear and temporal placement showed promise as an alternative placement site for euthanizing mature pigs on-farm.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Kramer, Scott A. and Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Robles, Ivelisse and Moeller, Steve J. and Bowman, Andrew S. and Kieffer, Justin D. and Arruda, Andreia Goncalves and Cressman, Michael D. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2021}, month={Mar} } @article{park_cramer_wagner_turner_moraes_viscardi_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2020, title={A comparison of behavioural methodologies utilised to quantify deviations in piglet behaviour associated with castration}, volume={29}, ISSN={["0962-7286"]}, DOI={10.7120/09627286.29.3.285}, abstractNote={AbstractSurgical castration is a painful procedure that is routinely performed without pain relief on commercial pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) farms. Previous research has focused on quantifying piglet pain response through behaviours. However, to date, behavioural sampling methodologies used to quantify pain associated with castration have not been validated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate scan sampling methodologies (2-min, 3-min, 5-min, 10-min and 15-min intervals) to quantify piglet pain responses expressed by castrated piglets’ behaviour. A total of 39 Yorkshire-Landrace × Duroc male piglets (five days of age) were surgically castrated using a scalpel blade. Behaviour frequency and duration (scratching, spasms, stiffness, tail wagging and trembling) of each piglet were continuously collected for the first 15 min of the following hours relative to castration (-24, 1-8 and 24). To determine if the sampling interval accurately reflected true duration and frequency for each behaviour, as determined by continuous observation, criteria previously utilised from other behavioural validation studies were used: coefficient of determination above 0.9, slope not statistically different from one and intercept not statistically different from zero. No scan sampling interval provided accurate estimates for any behavioural indicators of pain. The results of this study suggest that continuous sampling is the most appropriate methodology to fully capture behaviour specific to pain associated with castration. Using validated behavioural methodologies in future research can assist in the development of objective, science-based protocols for managing pig pain.}, number={3}, journal={ANIMAL WELFARE}, author={Park, R. M. and Cramer, M. C. and Wagner, B. K. and Turner, P. and Moraes, L. E. and Viscardi, A. V. and Coetzee, J. F. and Pairis-Garcia, M. D.}, year={2020}, month={Aug}, pages={285–292} } @article{ross_wagner_cressman_cramer_pairis-garcia_2020, title={SHORT COMMUNICATION: Investigating woody breast disease and broiler chicken activity using an automated tracking software program}, volume={36}, ISSN={["2590-2865"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2019-01953}, DOI={10.15232/aas.2019-01953}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Objective This research quantified the effect of woody breast disease (WBD) presence and severity on activity in broilers. Materials and Methods Broiler cockerel chicks (n = 27) were enrolled over 2 periods and individually housed. Video data were collected continuously from 21 to 55 d of age. Behavior was analyzed over a 4-h interval using EthoVision XT automated tracking software to quantify total activity. Birds were slaughtered at 55 d of age and assigned a woody breast severity score (0–2) based on manual palpation and visual observation. Results and Discussion Of the 25 birds that survived for the duration of the study, 6 birds were assigned a severity score of 0 (no evidence of WBD), 14 a severity score of 1 (firm focal lesions), and 5 a severity score of 2 (diffuse firmness of the entire pectoralis major muscle). Neither WBD presence nor severity had an effect on total activity (P > 0.05). In the present study, no effect of WBD on activity was detected using an automated tracking software program for behavior quantification. However, limitations of the software and the potential presence of microscopic lesions in birds with a severity score of 0 may be contributing to this outcome. Implications and Applications Although WBD has significant financial implications for the poultry industry, limited research has evaluated the effect of WBD on bird welfare and behavior. Future studies should measure a more diverse set of behaviors while also analyzing muscle histology to better elucidate any associations between WBD and behavior.}, number={3}, journal={APPLIED ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Ross, L. and Wagner, B. K. and Cressman, M. D. and Cramer, M. C. and Pairis-Garcia, M. D.}, year={2020}, month={Jun}, pages={447–453} }