Norbrook study highlights lack of awareness of cattle pain management issues

Norbrook Laboratories has published the results of a new survey indicating that better education may be needed to drive up standards of pain management on farms.

More than 160 vets and livestock farmers from across the UK took part in the Norbrook survey, with respondents asked to identify the conditions for which they administered analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication in cattle, sheep and swine.

Up to 57 percent of the farmers polled said they never used pain medication when performing cattle castration, while one-quarter did not use any pain relief therapies for dehorning. This possibly reflects an erroneous assumption that local anaesthetic is a form of pain relief.

A number of factors may be acting as a barrier to the greater use of pain medication, including cost, traditions, time and withdrawal period, as well as a lack of perception that farm animals feel pain.

As such, more may need to be done by the animal health sector to provide greater clarity to farmers about the practical and economic consequences of not using pain relief medication.

Rebecca Laborne, large animal product manager at Norbrook, said: "Vets believe the greatest barrier for farmers who do not use analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication is a lack of understanding of the economic consequences of pain and inflammation in farm animals."

With over 20 years of experience within the animal health market, we at Zenopa have the knowledge, skills and expertise to help find the right job for you. To find out more about the current animal health roles we have available, you can search for the latest job roles, register your details, or contact the team today.