EFFECTS OF SHALLOW SCOOP AND DEEP SCOOP DEHORNING ON PLASMA-CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN CALVES

Scoop dehorning is one method of horn amputation. Plasma cortisol conc entrations were used to investigate the effects of wound depth caused by shallow scoop and deep scoop dehorning on the acute pain-induced di stress experienced by 15-week-old calves during the first 9 hours foll owing horn amputation. Shallow scoop and deep scoop dehorning caused a prolonged cortisol elevation which returned to control values within 8 hours and 6 hours, respectively. There were no significant differenc es between shallow and deep dehorning with regard to mean plasma corti sol concentrations and integrated cortisol responses during the 9 hour s after dehorning. Linear regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between wound depth and integrated cortisol response. Henc e, at the investigated scoop wound depths, there was no detectable ben efit in implementing a shallow scoop strategy in order to reduce acute pain-induced distress caused by scoop dehorning in 15-week-old calves .