Evaluation de protocoles associant tranquillisation, analgésie et anesthésie lors de la castration des porcelets

International audienceWithin the Farinelli project, five protocols that combined tranquillisation, anaesthetics and analgesics to reduce pain in piglets during and after castration were evaluated. Seventy-two litters were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) no pain relief (Control), 2) meloxicam injection and general anaesthesia with isoflurane inhalation (Melo/Iso), 3) meloxicam and intratesticularlidocaine injection (Melo/Lido), 4 and 5) lidocaine and phytotherapy administered three days before and two days after castration, either orally to piglets (4-Lido/PhytoP) or to sows (5- Lido/PhytoT), and 6) meloxicam, cold spray prior to scrotal incision and then administration of a gel composed of two local anaesthetics, an antiseptic and a haemostatic (Melo/Tri) in the wound. The piglets were observed during the injections and castration, and their vocalisations were recorded. For each litter, the plasma cortisol level of two piglets was measured 30 min after castration, and the behaviour of three other piglets was observed for 1 h, starting 15 min,5 h, 24 h and 48 h after castration. Wound healing was recorded the following day. Melo/Iso piglets expressed no reaction to castration but had higher cortisol levels than Melo/Lido and Melo/Tri piglets (P < 0.05). The Melo/Tri treatment caused the most agitation and louder vocalisations at castration, mainly due to the cold spray, and worse wound condition the following day. After castration, meloxicam appeared to reduce pain, with fewer prostrate piglets that were out of sync with the rest of the litter and inactive. Phytotherapy administered to sows slightly decreased the duration of castration of their piglets. Treatments that combined lidocaine or Tri and meloxicam seem the most promisingCinq protocoles combinant tranquillisation, anesthésiques et analgésique ont été évalués dans le cadre du projet CasDAR Farinelli. 72 portées ont été attribuées au hasard à l'un des six traitements : 1) sans soulagement de la douleur (Contrôle), 2) injection de méloxicam et anesthésie générale par inhalation d'isoflurane (Melo/Iso), 3) méloxicam et injection intra-testiculaire de lidocaïne (Melo/Lido), 4 et 5) lidocaïne et phytothérapie administrée avant et après la castration, soit oralement aux porcelets (4-Lido/PhytoP), soit aux truies (5-Lido/PhytoT), 6) méloxicam, application de spray froid, puis incision du scrotum et administration d'un gel (Tri-Solfen ®) dans la plaie (Melo/Tri). Les porcelets ont été observés pendant les injections et la castration, et leurs vocalisations enregistrées. Le taux de cortisol plasmatique de deux porcelets par portée a été mesuré 30 minutes après la castration. Le comportement de trois autres porcelets a été observé pendant 1h, commençant 15 min, 5h, 24h et 48h après la castration. La cicatrisation des plaies a été suivie. Les porcelets Melo/Iso n'expriment aucune réaction lors de la castration, mais présentent des teneurs en cortisol plus élevées que les porcelets Melo/Lido et Melo/Tri (P < 0,05). Le traitement Melo/Tri provoque le plus de réactions lors de la castration, partiellement dues à l'application du froid, et un moins bon état des plaies à 24h. Le méloxicam semble atténuer la douleur avec moins de porcelets prostrés, désynchronisés du reste de la portée et inactifs. La phytothérapie administrée à la truie a été associée à une légère réduction de la durée de la castration. Les traitements combinant anesthésie locale par voie intra-testiculaire ou topique et méloxicam semblent les plus prometteurs pour une utilisation en élevage. Evaluation of protocols combining tranquillisation, analgesia and anaesthesia during piglet castration Within the Farinelli project, five protocols that combined tranquillisation, anaesthetics and analgesics to reduce pain in piglets during and after castration were evaluated. Seventy-two litters were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) no pain relief (Control), 2) meloxicam injection and general anaesthesia with isoflurane inhalation (Melo/Iso), 3) meloxicam and intratesticular lidocaine injection (Melo/Lido), 4 and 5) lidocaine and phytotherapy administered three days before and two days after castration, either orally to piglets (4-Lido/PhytoP) or to sows (5-Lido/PhytoT), and 6) meloxicam, cold spray prior to scrotal incision and then administration of a gel composed of two local anaesthetics, an antiseptic and a haemostatic (Melo/Tri) in the wound. The piglets were observed during the injections and castration, and their vocalisations were recorded. For each litter, the plasma cortisol level of two piglets was measured 30 min after castration, and the behaviour of three other piglets was observed for 1 h, starting 15 min, 5 h, 24 h and 48 h after castration. Wound healing was recorded the following day. Melo/Iso piglets expressed no reaction to castration but had higher cortisol levels than Melo/Lido and Melo/Tri piglets (P < 0.05). The Melo/Tri treatment caused the most agitation and louder vocalisations at castration, mainly due to the cold spray, and worse wound condition the following day. After castration, meloxicam appeared to reduce pain, with fewer prostrate piglets that were out of sync with the rest of the litter and inactive. Phytotherapy administered to sows slightly decreased the duration of castration of their piglets. Treatments that combined lidocaine or Tri and meloxicam seem the most promising