Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Improving analgesia provision for sheep: An analysis of farm medicine records and attitudes towards pain relief on sheep farms in Northern Ireland

Crawford, Paul E.; Hamer, Kim; Lovatt, Fiona; Behnke, Malgorzata C.; Robinson, Philip A.

Improving analgesia provision for sheep: An analysis of farm medicine records and attitudes towards pain relief on sheep farms in Northern Ireland Thumbnail


Authors

Paul E. Crawford

Kim Hamer

FIONA LOVATT FIONA.LOVATT@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Clinical Associate Professor

Malgorzata C. Behnke

Philip A. Robinson



Abstract

Background
Management of pain is critical to improve the welfare of farmed livestock and meet consumer expectations. There is limited published information about the use of analgesic drugs in the sheep sector.

Methods
A mixed-method approach was followed. The range of analgesic drugs used on 52 Northern Irish sheep farms was determined through analysis of medicine purchase records. Through interview and discussion groups, with both farmer and veterinarian participants, attitudes towards the use and adoption of such medicines were explored.

Results
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was widespread and highly variable. One-third of farmers in the sample did not purchase any NSAID. Meloxicam was the most commonly purchased NSAID by mass (72%) and standardised dose (73%). During interviews and discussions, farmers outlined the benefits they saw in using NSAIDs and how veterinarians influenced their uptake of these medicines. Use of corticosteroid was evidenced on 50% of the farms that supplied medicine records for analysis.

Conclusions
Veterinarians can influence farmers to adopt NSAIDs for the provision of analgesia in their sheep and farmers observed the benefits they delivered. However, many farmers are still to be reached with this message, perhaps due to being largely self-sufficient and rarely engaging with veterinarians. Veterinarians have the opportunity to challenge farmers about the provision of analgesia, especially when farmers seek antibiotics for painful conditions such as lameness. Currently, the lack of an authorised product in the UK, with associated treatment guidance and industry promotion, may limit veterinarians’ confidence in prescribing drugs for pain control in sheep.

Citation

Crawford, P. E., Hamer, K., Lovatt, F., Behnke, M. C., & Robinson, P. A. (2023). Improving analgesia provision for sheep: An analysis of farm medicine records and attitudes towards pain relief on sheep farms in Northern Ireland. Veterinary Record Open, 10(2), Article e75. https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.75

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 23, 2023
Online Publication Date Oct 23, 2023
Publication Date 2023-12
Deposit Date Apr 22, 2024
Publicly Available Date Apr 24, 2024
Journal Veterinary Record Open
Electronic ISSN 2052-6113
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 10
Issue 2
Article Number e75
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.75
Keywords General Veterinary
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/26539102
Publisher URL https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vro2.75

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations