Summary of pain relief use

Castration in beef cattle in southern Australia is a routine animal husbandry procedure that results in pain at the time it is performed.
Use of rubber rings/banding is likely to result in less pain than surgical castration.
There is insufficient research to be sure of the best form of pain relief.
NSAIDs (meloxicam or flunixon) should provide pain relief for longer-term chronic pain but do not appear to be effective for the initial immediate pain.
Tri-Solfen should provide pain relief if surgical castration is necessary.
Leaving male animals entire is not an established pathway for commercial beef production.

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