Effect of a single meloxicam administration on newborn Holstein-Friesian dystocia calves: Field results from the first 10 days of life.

Background and Aim: Calves have increased morbidity and mortality rates after dystocia. One cause is pain during birth, which reduces their colostrum intake. The administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may break this causality. This study aimed to determine the consequences of a single administration of the NSAID meloxicam to dystocia calves after birth. Materials and Methods: Fifty Holstein-Friesian calves born with dystocia from four dairy cattle farms were included in this study. The animals were randomized into two groups. The animals in Group I (n=25, treatment group) received subcutaneous 0.5 mg meloxicam/kg body weight 2-8 h after birth. The animals in Group II (n=25, control group) received a control substance (Amynin®, bovine infusion solution, Merial) with the same volume. The newborn calves were clinically examined on the 1st and 10th days of life. The information regarding the days in between was gathered by questioning the farmer. Results: There was a significant difference (p=0.04) only in calves with thin, mushy fecal consistency on the 10th day in the treatment group compared with the control group. Moreover, meloxicam had no effect on dystocia calves. Conclusion: Since NSAID administration did not produce a significant clinical effect, its necessity is questionable. Further studies should examine how modifying its application time would have an effect. The primary indicators of well-being, such as pain indicators in the blood, were not measured; however, these should be considered in subsequent studies.

[Administration of meloxicam to cows experiencing dystocia does not increase the incidence of retained placenta]. / Die Gabe von Meloxicam an Kühe nach Dystokie steigert nicht die Inzidenz der Retentio secundinarum.

OBJECTIVE: The post partum use of analgesics in cows has increased in consequence to society's increased awareness of animal welfare. However, it is known that the post partum administration of a subset of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to cows may lead to an increased rate of retained placenta. Therefore, the aim of this study was clarify, whether a single administration of meloxicam to cows that experienced dystocia results in an increased rate of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 63 Holstein-Friesian cows in 4 farms with random allocation into 2 groups: In animals of the treatment group (n = 27) a single subcutaneous injection of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) was administered within 2-8 hours after calving. The animals of the control group (n = 36) received the same volume of a bovine infusion solution (Amynin®, bovine infusion solution, Boehringer Ingelheim) subcutaneously. A clinical examination of the cows was performed on the day of parturition and on the 21st day post partum. Findings on the days in between were obtained by questioning of the farmers. The exact Fisher-test was calculated in order to test for statistical differences between the treatment and control groups. RESULTS: In cows of the treatment group, retained placenta was not observed more frequently than in cows of the control group. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A single administration of meloxicam to cows that experienced dystocia does not increase the incidence of retained placenta.