ABSTRACT

It has been well-documented and well-established that cattle of all ages are capable of experiencing pain. The pain may be the result of procedures performed to alter animals for the betterment of the herd and the end product of beef. Cattle also experience pain as a result of disease conditions that either themselves are painful, as in the case of lameness; or as a result of a medical procedure to treat a disease condition, such as laparotomies for correction of left displaced abomasum. The use of pharmaceuticals as analgesic is an important factor in the treatment and well-being of animals. However, it is important to recognize the challenges and factors that must go into utilizing these agents for pain mitigation, especially in food producing animals. Local anesthetics are the most commonly used analgesics in cattle. They function by blocking sodium channels within nerve cells and preventing the conduction and transmission of the pain signal.