ACUTE CORTISOL RESPONSES OF CALVES TO 4 METHODS OF DEHORNING BY AMPUTATION

Objective To measure the plasma cortisol response in calves dehorned b y four different methods (scoop, guillotine shears, saw, embryotomy wi re) for 9 h after dehorning. Design A physiological study with control s. Procedure Horn amputation was carried out on calves restrained manu ally in a race. Results The four methods of dehorning provoked similar ly increased cortisol responses which lasted for 6 h. During the first hour after dehorning the plasma cortisol concentrations were similar to those following ACTH injection. The overall cortisol response to co ntrol handling was about 30% of the responses to dehorning. Conclusion s The similarity of the cortisol responses produced by the four method s of dehorning suggests that the distress experienced by calves follow ing dehorning by amputation is similar regardless of method used.