Use of a lidocaine impregnated band improved behavioral and physiological indicators of pain during tail docking in lambs

Tail docking improves hygiene, reduces flystrike, and enhances efficiency for routine husbandry practices such as shearing, serving as an important management practice that promotes sheep health. However, the procedure is known to cause acute stress and discomfort, raising animal welfare concerns. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a lidocaine impregnated band at mitigating pain associated with tail docking newborn lambs. Thirty-two lambs were randomly assigned to receive a lidocaine impregnated rubber O-ring band (LB; n=16) or a non-medicated standard O-ring band (CON; n=16). An elastrator was used to place CON and LB rings below the third caudal vertebrae for docking lambs at three days of life. At -1h, 0h, 2h, 12h, 24h, 3d, 7d, 14d, 21d, and 28d, behavioral observations, pressure algometry, infrared thermography, and blood collection were performed. From birth to 30d of age, daily weights were collected and used to determine growth and average daily gain (ADG). There was a band by time interaction for behavioral response at the time of banding (0h), in which LB lambs exhibited fewer (P < 0.05) painful behaviors compared to CON. LB lambs had greater (P < 0.05) mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) below the site of docking compared to CON lambs, while thresholds above the banding site and at the control site did not differ. Thermal imaging revealed no temperature differences between LB and CON lambs at any timepoint or location. There was a treatment by time interaction where LB lambs had decreased (P < 0.05) haptoglobin levels two days post banding compared to CON lambs. The first 30d performance did not differ between groups when evaluated as growth or ADG. The length of time until the tail fell off did not differ between treatments. These results indicate that lidocaine bands reduce initial pain response, tissue sensitivity, and help resolve the acute phase response faster than traditional bands, minimizing discomfort and stress while still achieving tail docking in the same amount of time. Thus, LBs may serve as a simple tool for livestock producers to incorporate into their standard management practices to enhance animal welfare.