Daily Network News

More News →

Tag Archives castration

Seeing how readily Canadian cow-calf producers are adopting pain control for castration is a good message that helps support consumer confidence.
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Research on the Record

Producer survey stretches beef check-off dollars and supports consumer confidence

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By
January’s column talked about the Canadian Cow-Calf Survey the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is running to help focus our research priorities and extension efforts. But the information from this survey also helps us demonstrate the value of research to government funders and helps support efforts to improve consumer confidence. The government angle is important […] Read more
Cull bulls in a feedlot. Pain mitigation has become standard practice when castrating older animals, and researchers are looking at whether it reduces disease in other stressful situations.
Features

Research into pain management and animal health

North American researchers are studying how pain mitigation affects the health and performance of calves, as well as the economics

By
Castration, and to a lesser extent dehorning, are routine and necessary procedures on cattle farms, ranches and feedlots across the nation. These stressful events deliver varying levels of concentrated pain to their recipients which fade over time but in doing so, also create extended ripples of influences throughout an animal’s life. Dr. Michael Jelinski of […] Read more
Lionel Gibbs and Merle and Barbara Olson in Australia.
Livestock, News

Canadian company to launch anaesthetic-infused castration bands

Solvet’s new castration bands will release lidocaine slowly, providing long-term pain relief for animals during and after castration

By
Journalists pack the room at Solvet’s operations in Calgary, Alta., hands in the air as they pepper Anders Olson with questions. A table holds Gatorade and donuts for the media tour, part of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress held in Olds, Alta., this summer. Anders Olson, product manager and sales support for the […] Read more
Dr. Diego Moya and his colleagues found that using lidocaine in addition to meloxicam during castration may control pain better than meloxicam alone.
Features, Livestock

Lidocaine shows promise in mitigating castration pain

Two ongoing projects highlight the potential of using this anaesthetic during processing

By
Producers may have another option to offset castration pain in calves in the future, thanks to work underway in Western Canada. Early results from a University of Saskatchewan study suggest using lidocaine in addition to meloxicam during castration may control pain better than meloxicam alone. Dr. Diego Moya, assistant professor at the Western College of […] Read more
Can we reduce castration pain in week-old calves?
Livestock, Research

Can we reduce castration pain in week-old calves?

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By
Calving season is upon some of you and just around the corner for many more. Half of those calves will be castrated. Research has shown that it’s best to castrate calves at the youngest practical age to minimize pain and speed recovery. The 2019 Adoption Rates of Recommended Practices by Cow-Calf Operators in Canada study […] Read more
Castration can be one of the most stressful and painful experiences for livestock.
Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Castration tips and pain control

Better to castrate bull calves at a younger age, otherwise growth can be affected

By
There are numerous reasons for bull calf castration beyond reducing sexual activity and reproduction. Bulls are naturally aggressive and so castration becomes necessary for the herd’s welfare and the protection of those that work with them. Bulls exhibit a lower-quality, inconsistent, tougher, less marbled carcass than steers. They also deliver a much larger number of […] Read more
Producers are expected to seek guidance from their veterinarian on the optimum method and timing of castration.
Livestock, Research

What we’ve learned about castration in beef cattle

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By
When Canada’s 2013 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle was being developed, some participants felt it should require pain control for castration at all ages, like the dairy code. The producers and researchers on the beef code committee were confident that pain control was beneficial for feedlot bulls and dairy […] Read more
Two-month-old calves were numbered to identify them as they were sampled for blood and weighed through the chute.
Features, Livestock

Pain control in cattle remains a complex issue

The age of the animal is often a factor when considering pain mitigating options

By
When it comes to pain mitigation practices for her cattle operation, Cecilie Fleming believes it’s the right thing to do. It’s also proven to be practical and cost-effective, factors that many beef producers consider when deciding whether to implement pain control. Fleming, who raises purebred Angus, Simmental and Charolais cattle with her family at Fleming […] Read more
How castration method and age affect pain in young calves
Livestock, Research

How castration method and age affect pain in young calves

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By
Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle requires that castration be performed by an experienced person who uses proper, clean, well-maintained equipment and accepted techniques. A producer is expected to seek guidance from their veterinarian on the optimum method and timing of castration, as well as the availability and advisability […] Read more
That’s gotta hurt
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Research

That’s gotta hurt

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By
Marketing executives for grocery and restaurant chains track consumer perceptions and attitudes towards issues like livestock production practices, animal welfare and pain control. These surveys sometimes lead to initiatives that impose specific production standards on suppliers so the company can distinguish itself and showcase its products. From the other side, animal welfare researchers study how […] Read more

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for August 29, 2025

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Latest Market News

More Market News →