Madison E. Bacon, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota , Marcia I. Endres and Bradley J. Heins, West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota
Disbudding, the removal of horn buds in young calves, is a routine practice in dairy farming aimed at improving animal management and safety. However, the procedure is known to cause significant pain and stress, raising welfare concerns, especially in organic dairy systems where pain control options are limited. This article summarizes a recent study that assessed the effectiveness of willow bark extract versus lidocaine and sham treatments in alleviating pain and stress in organic dairy calves following cautery disbudding.
This is an AI summary of the original research paper. Dr. Heins has approved this version of the research and given permission to re-print. The link to the original research is at the end of the article.
The research involved 42 Holstein and crossbred calves aged 4 to 7 weeks. Calves were assigned to one of three groups: lidocaine (LID), willow bark extract (WB), or sham disbudding (SD). The study measured physiological and behavioral responses to evaluate the impact of each treatment on pain and stress levels.
Results showed that both LID and WB groups had higher heart rates (123.3 bpm and 124.5 bpm, respectively) compared to the SD group (110.8 bpm). Salivary cortisol concentrations, a marker of stress, were also elevated in the LID (103.8 pg/mL) and WB (103.4 pg/mL) groups versus SD (85.5 pg/mL). Ocular temperature, another physiological indicator, did not differ significantly between groups.
Behaviorally, lying bouts (periods of rest) decreased from 31.3 during the first 24 hours post-disbudding to 25.1 in the subsequent 24-48 hour period, suggesting some discomfort in the treated calves. However, no significant differences in overall lying behavior were observed between disbudded and control calves over 72 hours. Previous research had indicated more frequent transitions from lying to standing and less lying time after disbudding, which this study did not confirm.
When comparing treatments, neither lidocaine nor willow bark extract provided significant relief from pain compared to the sham group. Heart rate and cortisol levels were similar in both LID and WB groups, indicating no clear advantage of willow bark over lidocaine. Notably, lidocaine was effective in desensitizing horn buds to acute pain at the time of disbudding, while willow bark failed to mitigate pain and was ineffective for long-term pain management. The findings highlight the need for further research into pain mitigation therapies for calves undergoing disbudding.
The study underscores a critical welfare issue in organic dairy farming: only 26% of organic dairy farms currently use pain control methods during disbudding. While interest in herbal remedies like willow bark is growing among organic producers, scientific evidence supporting their efficacy remains limited. The results call for the development of safe and effective pain relief alternatives that align with organic farming principles.
Housing conditions were found to influence calf behavior post-disbudding. Group-housed disbudded calves spent less time lying down compared to non-disbudded calves, indicating that rearing systems may affect recovery and welfare. This suggests that future research should explore how different housing arrangements impact calf well-being during and after disbudding procedures.
The study faced several limitations, including a small calving season that restricted the number of calves available for enrollment. Additionally, the researchers were unable to include a flunixin meglumine treatment group due to the limited sample size, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Current guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommend a combination of local anesthetics, analgesics, and sedation for effective pain control during disbudding. However, in organic farming, flunixin meglumine is the only approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and its use is contested due to concerns over synthetic substances. The study suggests that research should focus on identifying herbal analgesics that can be used in combination with lidocaine to improve pain management for organic dairy cattle.
In summary, lidocaine was effective in reducing acute pain during disbudding, as indicated by stable heart rate and cortisol levels. Willow bark extract, on the other hand, did not provide pain relief and was ineffective for long-term management. The authors recommend that organic dairy producers should at least use lidocaine to ease acute pain during disbudding and underscore the urgent need for research into new long-term pain management strategies compatible with organic production standards.
The authors can be reached at their email addresses: Madison E. Bacon, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, bacon097@umn.edu (M.E.B.); Marcia I. Endres, miendres@umn.edu (M.I.E.) and Bradley J. Heins, hein0106@umn.edu West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN.
There are barriers to including a link to the original research paper. To read it in full, do an internet search of the article title. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Posted: to Organic Production on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Updated: Sun, Jan 11, 2026
