INVITED REVIEW: On-farm pain management of food production animals

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to describe the current options and unmet needs for on-farm pain control in food production animals. Sources: Peer-reviewed literature was the primary source of data and information for this review. Synthesis: There are millions of farm animals that experience painful livestock management procedures each year. Moreover, disease conditions such as lameness require on-farm analgesic treatment. Consumer concerns about the welfare of food animals experiencing painful procedures have increased the requirement for producers to implement pain management protocols on farms. However, objective pain evaluation methods are lacking, making it difficult to identify animals in pain and to secure regulatory approval of analgesics for livestock. Flunixin, meloxicam, and ketoprofen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with supporting research for on-farm analgesia. An understanding of their pharmacological properties and effects in animals, regulatory restrictions such as meat withholds, costs, and dosing requirements are needed to make the most prudent drug choice. Conclusions and Applications: Options for on-farm analgesia are limited, and further research is needed on simple and objective ways to measure pain in food animals. The use of local anesthetics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as flunixin or meloxicam are currently the best options for on-farm analgesia.