Pain mitigation protocols are a great example of utilizing a VCPR. There are very few FDA approved anesthetics or analgesics for cattle. Therefore, it is important to have a VCPR with a veterinarian so they can advise, provide pain management protocols, and supply the prescribed anti-inflammatory or pain medications. A VCPR is required for many tasks, including for all prescription medications and for extra-label use of non-prescription medications (ELDU). A reminder that ELDU is only legal if prescribed by a veterinarian within the context of a valid VCPR.  Producers/clients must follow veterinarian's instructions for all drug use, including following extended withdrawal times and maintaining records and identification of treated animals. 

Part of thoughtful, responsible cattle management includes consideration of pain management for cattle suffering from lameness or pain during or following a procedure. Different considerations for the various types of procedures, handling facilities, and number of animals will determine what could be used. For instance, lidocaine can be used for temporary pain relief and works right away. Oral medications like meloxicam can be put into gelatin capsules for easy dosing for a specific weight and administration with a balling gun. Types of products that are currently available through a veterinary prescription include:

• Topical: Flunixin meglumine, lidocaine 
• Oral: Meloxicam, gabapentin, others 
• Injectable: Flunixin meglumine, lidocaine, ketoprofen 
• Sedation: Many products that veterinarians can use to reduce stress in animals and improve human safety with animal handling 

As more products are being developed for pain relief in food animals, researchers are keen to find practical solutions. One such product is a lidocaine-loaded castrator band that delivers local pain relief to calves and bulls during band castration, with pain relief for multiple days after placement. Still in the approval process, this product shows promise to provide another component to a herd’s pain management plan. 

Working pain management into your herd health plan can be a collaborative effort with your herd veterinarian. They will be able to build a multimodal approach to pain management based on the age of cattle, procedures completed, and what fits into your operation. Proper training on knowing when pain management is needed and how to provide the pain medication is important piece to your plan. 

As mentioned earlier, food safety is an important component to raising animals going into the food supply. BQA’s recommendations on reading labels especially applies here, ensuring the correct dose, route of administration, species, indication, and withdrawal times are adhered to. Extended withdrawal periods will be applied if your veterinarian prescribes a medication ELDU. Veterinarians use a university-based resource called the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD; www.farad.org) to calculate scientifically-based recommendations for safe withdrawal intervals of drugs and chemicals in food-producing animals. It is a collaborative effort to ensure appropriate withdrawal times are recommended and followed. A note that not all over-the-counter products are legal to use in food animals, so read the label carefully or consult with your herd veterinarian before using them to avoid violative residues or illegal use of medications. 

When animals are treated with any product, including a pain medication or anti-inflammatory, it is important to keep good records of the animal or group being treated. When cattle are treated or processed, record the following in the treatment records: 

• Individual animal or group/lot identification 
• Date treated 
• Product administered and manufacturer’s lot/serial number 
• Dosage 
• Route and location of administration 
• Earliest date animal(s) will have cleared the withdrawal period 
• Name of individual administering the treatment 
• Date of treated animal recheck to determine if treatment was successful 
• Approximate weight of animal or approximate group average weight 

When working cattle of any age, demonstrating calm and low-stress cattle handling techniques provides a quiet and safe environment for the animals and the handlers. Human safety and animal restraint are key to a pain management plan. Regardless of the age of the animal, anti-inflammatories or pain control should be considered with major medical procedures. There are many options that your veterinarian can discuss with you to tailor the protocol to your operation. Use your VCPR to your and your herd’s advantage to plan out pain management for your operation.