The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is the go-to organization for government and policymakers when it comes to cattle health, production and well-being issues. Its animal welfare committee has updated the sections in the guidelines on proper restraint, local anesthesia and systemic pain relief.
Source: Bovine Veterinarian, December 30, 2019. Link. In 2019, the AABP separated the guidelines for dehorning (updated November 2019) from castration (updated August 2019) as seen below:
INSIGHTS: These changes represent good topics for discussion on farm calls, as well as during VFD visits. Consider sharing the updated information on social media, as well as newsletters to set expectations ahead of providing castration and dehorning support on farm.