SOUTH East Queensland beef producer Glen Fearby says there's no going back once livestock managers start using pain relief treatments on their cattle.
Mr Fearby said not only were there obvious production benefits, but the use of pain relief was an great way the cattle industry could actively demonstrate that animal welfare was a high priority.
"I'm using Tri-Solfen anywhere there is an open wound," Mr Fearby said.
"The cattle and calves seemed to be a lot calmer, and less stressed.
"It's a bonus because they are easier to handle and they do better.
"I think it is also really important that our industry demonstrates that it is serious about the welfare of our animals."
Mr Fearby usually runs a breeder herd of about 220 cows on his property Cossart at Maroon, between Boonah and Woodenbong.
The herd consists of mainly of Devon and South Devon genetics with a "touch of Red Angus". However, female numbers have been cut to just 160 head as a result of the ongoing drought.
In addition to castration and dehorning, Mr Fearby said he was also applying the distinctive blue gel when he ear tagged his cattle.
He said he first heard about Tri-Solfen while reading an article in Queensland Country Life.
"I was impressed by the experiences of other producers and I decided to use it on my cattle," Mr Fearby said.
"I did, and I was very impressed with the immediate results. Providing pain relief really changed the behaviour of the cattle."
Mr Fearby said Tri-Solfen was very easy to use.
"Just point and squirt and it is done," he said.
"Once you see the results you don't worry about anything else.
"Tri-Solfen works and I'll be telling people about it."
Tri-Solfen was initially developed as a pain relief product for the sheep industry, most notably mulesing, but has also been widely adopted in the cattle industry.
The blue gel administered using an applicator gun. It contained two local anaesthetics, lignocane and bupivivaine, plus adrenalin to stop bleeding and an antiseptic to prevent infection.
