THE RSPCA says there is no longer any reason for livestock producers not be using pain relief products as part of routine animal husbandry practices.
The RSPCA statement follows the granting of additional Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority registrations for Tri-Solfen, marketed in Australia by Bayer. The new registrations for dehorning and disbudding, in addition to its existing registration for castration for both beef and dairy calves.
The RSPCA said the availability and use of pain relief products such as the topical anaesthetic Tri-Solfen, the Meloxicam buccalgesic, and the Metacam injectable, particularly when used in combination, was crucial for maintaining good animal welfare on farm.
“The RSPCA has welcomed the news that animal pain relief product Tri-Solfen is now also registered for dehorning and disbudding of beef and dairy calves, as well as providing pain relief post-mulesing,” a statement issued by the RSPCA reads.
With more options now available, there’s simply no reason for not providing pain relief for animals when undertaking painful procedures.
- RSPCA
“When painful procedures are necessary on farm, pain relief should always be provided, so the news of further uses for Tri-Solfen means more options are now widely available for farmers.
“With more options now available, there’s simply no reason for not providing pain relief for animals when undertaking painful procedures.”
Medical Ethics managing director Allan Giffard said the RSPCA statement was a significant endorsement of pain relief technology from one of the world’s leading animal welfare groups.
“It now shows that the Tri-Solfen technology is accepted by all livestock stakeholders as the most effective and practical way to mitigate pain associated with husbandry procedures,” Mr Giffard said.
Tri-Solfen is a pain relieving and wound healing formulation that has short term and long term analgesia, antiseptics, reduces blood loss and coats the wound. It costs between about a $1 and $1.50 to treat each animal. It is described as best suited to calves aged six to eight weeks and is designed to provide pain relief for 24 to 36 hours.
AgForce Cattle president Bim Struss said there had been widespread use of Tri-Solfen in the beef industry since its initial registration for cattle in 2014.
“We welcome this extended use,” said Mr Struss, who is also a director of Cattle Council of Australia. “Farmers are increasingly seeking a way to improve welfare standards and Tri-Solfen provides a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve wound healing more broadly across livestock.”
Kathryn Davis from Dairy Australia said the additional registrations were great news for dairy calf welfare.
“It is now easy for farmers to provide cheap and effective pain relief on site for calves following husbandry procedures," Ms Davis said,
The gel based product was originally developed to provide pain relief for the mulesing of sheep.