Abstract #370
Section: Animal Behavior and Well-Being (orals)
Session: Animal Behavior and Well-Being II
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Tuesday 4:00 PM–4:15 PM
Location: Room 300 AB
Session: Animal Behavior and Well-Being II
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Tuesday 4:00 PM–4:15 PM
Location: Room 300 AB
# 370
Effects of oral administration of acetylsalicylic acid on physiological parameters and biomarkers of inflammation, pain and stress in organic dairy cows that experienced vulvar lesion at calving.
A. A. Barragan*1, S. Bas2, L. M. Bauman2, J. Lakritz3, J. Velez4, J. D. Rozo Gonzalez4, G. M. Schuenemann2, R. J. Van Saun1, 1Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 2Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 3Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 4Aurora Organic Farms, Boulder, CO.
Key Words: dairy cattle, vulvar lesion, acetylsalicylic acid
Effects of oral administration of acetylsalicylic acid on physiological parameters and biomarkers of inflammation, pain and stress in organic dairy cows that experienced vulvar lesion at calving.
A. A. Barragan*1, S. Bas2, L. M. Bauman2, J. Lakritz3, J. Velez4, J. D. Rozo Gonzalez4, G. M. Schuenemann2, R. J. Van Saun1, 1Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 2Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 3Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 4Aurora Organic Farms, Boulder, CO.
Calving is a natural process in dairy farms that allows cows to initiate lactation and provide the future replacements for the herd. During calving, cows can experience damage of the birth canal soft tissues, such as the vulva, which may impair cow performance and well-being. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of treatment with acetylsalicylic acid on physiological parameters and biomarkers of inflammation, pain and stress in dairy cows that experienced vulvar lesions after calving. Cows from 3 organic dairy herds (n = 563) were included in this study. Cows were blocked by parity and calving ease, and randomly assigned to 2 groups: 1) ASP (n = 278): within ~12 h after parturition cows received 4 treatments with acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg; 2 boluses) every 12 h; or 2) PLC (n = 285): within ~12 h after parturition cows received 4 consecutive treatments with gelatin capsules containing water every 12 h. Vulvar lesion scores (VLS; NO = no lesion; MILD = swollen or vulvar laceration > 1 cm; SEVERE = swollen and vulvar laceration > 1 cm) was assessed at enrollment. Blood samples were collected (ASP = 76; PLC = 76) immediately before each treatment administration for assessment of haptoglobin (HP), substance P (SP) and cortisol. Similarly, rectal and vulvar temperatures were measured after blood collection. The data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS as a randomized block design with repeated measures. A greater (P < 0.05) proportion of cows with SEVERE VLS (28.81%) experienced dystocia compared with cows with MILD (13.16%) and NO VLS (9.33%). The vulvar temperature was higher (P < 0.0001) in cows with SEVERE (36.96 ± 0.19°C) and MILD (36.08 ± 0.09°C) VLS compared with cows with NO VLS (35.72 ± 0.10°C). Overall, cows treated with ASP had lower (P = 0.001) concentration of HP. Furthermore, ASP cows with MILD VLS had lower concentration of SP compared with PLC cows with MILD VLS (ASP = 52.18 ± 1.58; PLC = 57.62 ± 1.66; P = 0.018). There was no difference in cortisol concentration between VLS groups. Results of this study suggest that treatment with aspirin may decrease inflammation and pain in cows with vulvar lesions.
Key Words: dairy cattle, vulvar lesion, acetylsalicylic acid
