Assessing veterinary students' attitudes towards pain in cattle before and after final-year clinical training

Cattle only show subtle signs of pain, making pain assessment difficult. The approach to pain and the use of analgesics depend on the treating person's experience and opinions.

Bavarian veterinary students were asked to answer two identical questionnaires before and after 12 weeks of clinical training in a ruminant clinic. A total of 60 students answered both questionnaires.

Out of 28 behavioural expressions of pain, six parameters were selected significantly more often following clinical training. Following training, pain scoring changed significantly for 10 of 20 conditions and three of 15 procedures in adult cattle, with enucleation of the eye bulb, claw amputation and caesarean section judged to be the most painful procedures. Castration (both surgical and Burdizzo) and laparotomy were scored as the most painful procedures in calves. Selected analgesic regimens did not change significantly, except for management for tenotomy of contracted tendons in calves. Students' opinions about farmers' attitudes towards pain and willingness to pay for analgesics differed after clinical training.

The high proportion of female participants could have influenced the study's results.

Practical experience influences veterinary students' attitudes towards pain recognition in cattle, but not towards pain management. Working with farmers changes students' opinions about farmers' preferences.