The Use of Lidocaine-Infused Castration Bands to Castrate Beef–Dairy Calves and Its Effect on Animal Welfare and Performance

Castration is a common management practice among livestock producers, and animal welfare concerns exist following this procedure. The study's aim was to compare the behavior, performance, and blood parameters between calves castrated with a lidocaine-infused castration band (Lidoband™; LLB) to a standard band with no pain relief. In this blinded, randomized controlled trial, 26 male beef-dairy cross calves were followed for 7 weeks post banding. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in regard to overall body weight, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion (G:F), clinical illness scores, banding site scores, and approach tests. However, there were treatment differences in the weekly ADG and G:F (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was a significant treatment by time interaction between the number of lying bouts and the average stand bout time (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was also a significant treatment difference in the number of wound licks (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, band castration presented acute and chronic pain, regardless of treatment. Performance, analyzed weekly, and behavioral patterns around the time of wound granulation (days 21-35 post castration) demonstrated positive outcomes for calves in the LLB group. Banding with an LLB proved to be beneficial in terms of both performance and behavioral aspects, implying greater animal welfare.