The National Organic Program (NOP) standards require humane treatment of farm animals and organic consumers want their dairy products to come from well-treated animals. This project explored alternative disbudding methods that minimize pain in calves undergoing this horn removal procedure (usually done with a hot iron).

In one trial, calves were treated with three dosage levels of an NOP-compliant willow bark-based analgesic bolus (Salix) or given a placebo bolus prior to disbudding and were observed for immediate pain and subsequent stress levels. Willow bark (WB) treatment did not reduce levels of the inflammatory biomarker prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), whereas the synthetic analgesic flunixin meglumine reduced PGE2 by two-thirds.

In a second trial, WB was compared with Dull It (DU), an NOP-compliant tincture of organic alcohol, apple cider vinegar, willow bark, St. John’s Wort, chamomile, arnica, and fennel. All animals, including controls, received Lidocaine at the time of disbudding. No differences in post-disbudding heart rate, salivary cortisol (stress hormone), or lying behavior were observed between WB, DU, and untreated control calves.

Behavioral patterns and cortisol levels were compared in horned versus dehorned first-lactation dairy cows to evaluate long-term effects of disbudding versus allowing cow horns to develop naturally. Dehorned cattle had significantly higher salivary cortisol levels than horned cattle during the first 8 days of lactation, but they showed no behavioral differences.