Effect of lidocaine and/or meloxicam on the physiological and vocal response of piglets during castration

摘要

In most European countries male piglets are castrated at a young age to prevent puberty and boar taint at slaughter. Traditionally, this procedure is performed without any form of anaesthesia, although it has been demonstrated to be painful1. Nowadays, the procedure meets increasing societal resistance. The present study investigated the effects of local anaesthesia with lidocaine and an analgesic (meloxicam) on the physiological and vocal responses of piglets during castration. The choice of parameters was based on available literature4.