Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration to periparturient cows to reduce postpartum pain-related behaviours

Question In periparturient cows does the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aid in reducing pain-related behaviours after parturition when compared to cows not administered NSAIDs? Clinical bottom line The category of research question was: Treatment. The number and type of study designs that were critically appraised were: Four randomised control trials. Critical appraisal of the selected papers meeting the inclusion criteria collectively provide zero/weak/moderate/strong evidence in terms of their experimental design and implementation: Moderate. The outcomes reported are summarised as follows… The evidence suggests that NSAIDs can reduce some pain-related behaviours and increase resting behaviours in postpartum cows, with the effect being most consistently observed when administered between 6 and 48 hours before calving or within 3 hours after calving. This effect was most consistently observed in individuals that had experienced uncomplicated calving events and primiparous animals. Primiparous animals administered meloxicam prior to natural calving displayed significantly more lying bouts on the day of calving when compared to primiparous control animals and primiparous animals administered meloxicam postpartum. A separate study reported that cows administered ketoprofen spent less time in lateral recumbency than cows in the placebo group, irrespective of whether calving was assisted. Additionally, when treatment cows were in sternal recumbency, they spent more time with their head in a rested position than the placebo group. There was no significant difference in feeding behaviours postpartum between treatment and placebo animals. There were conflicting results between papers assessing activity levels. In view of the strength of evidence and the outcomes from the studies the following conclusion is made… In some cows, in particular cows with an uncomplicated parturition, NSAIDs can reduce some pain-related behaviours and increase some resting behaviours postpartum. The NSAID should be administered between 6 and 48 hours before calving or within 3 hours after calving.