Adaptation and development of the anesthetic elastrator band for use in the Canadian lamb industry Research team Drs. Brenda Ralston, Merle Olson, Denis Nagel and their research teams Collaborators • • •
Alberta Veterinary Laboratories Ltd., Calgary, AB) Chinook Contract Research, Airdrie, AB Lakeland College
Funders • •
RDAR Alberta Lamb Producers
Summary A new product has been developed to add to livestock producers’ toolboxes for pain mitigation. The LidoBand™ is like the regular castration/tail docking elastration band currently available to livestock producers with the addition of lidocaine to control pain. Developed by Chinook Contract Research (CCR) and Alberta Veterinary Laboratories (AVL), the LidoBands™ are being tested for licensing in Canada. Currently if producers want to use these bands for their animals, a veterinary prescription is required. Talk to your vet about the use of Lidobands™. Background Canadian livestock producers are continuously seeking ways to mitigate pain for their animals. CCR and AVL have developed a novel way to deliver lidocaine topically via elastration bands to mitigate pain immediately during the castration procedure and through the following days until the tail and/or scrotum has cast. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works to prevent pain signals from beginning or being transmitted by blocking the sodium channels in the affected area.