Dehorning/Disbudding of Cattle and Calves

Why it should and shouldn’t be practiced

Kristy, Harriet & Michaela

What is it?

Disbudding

Horns are removed at the horn bud stage

In calves can be done as young as 3 weeks of age

Dehorning

Horns are amputated

In older cattle beasts it is a more painful process and anesthetics are generally used if it is done correctly!!

It is the process of removing or stopping the growth of horns on cattle

Why is it donePrevent injury towards farm workers/cattle handlers

Prevent injury towards other cattle/animals on the property

Prevent injury to itself

Cheaper and easier to sell

at sale yards and meat works

Not cattle you want to come across!!

How is it done - CalvesIn calves it is generally done at an ages between 3-6 weeks old

Most practiced methods of dehorning are: Hot Iron

Dehorning Paste

Correct restraint to insure no accidents

With both procedures appropriate glovesneed to be worn by applicator and all dehorning should be completed in dry weather.

Hot Iron•Calf needs to be restrained correctly in a calf crush

•The Hot Iron needs to be ready and at the correct temperature

•The calf’s ear needs to be held/placed out of the way •The tip of the Iron is places on the horn bud and slight pressure is applied

•When smoke is seen from the surrounding hair burning the iron is slowly rotated

•The Iron is applied for a further 10-15 seconds then removed.

Dehorning Paste

•Restrain calf correctly in crush

•Expose the horn bud

•Apply a thin layer of paste over bud using a wooden applicator

•Re-position the hair over the paste and horn bud to insure the paste stays in place and reduces irritation to other facial skin of the calves

How is it done – older calvesSome calves get missed getting dehorned due to the mass amount farmers and breeders need to get done.

Over the age of 3 months and the horn has grown over 4 inches and a Scoop, Gouge or Barnes dehorner need to be used

How it is doneCalf is correctly restrained

Sedation or local anesthetic is administered

The jaws of the dehorner are placed over the horn bud

Pressing the dehorner against the head, maintain the pressure, bring blades together to remove the skin and horn bud

• Bleeding is controlled by pulling on artery or using a hot iron

• Dehorner should always be disinfected between calves

Calf dehorning

How is it done - CattleCattle dehorning is done with vet supervision as Anesthetics need to be used

Beast is restrained in a cattle crush

Caution when using dehorner or “loppers” and even hand or electric saws

Dehorners are placed around beasts horn at the required length and amputated as quickly but stress free and quiet as possible

Cattle –Horn-Tipping

The tip of the horn is removed using the same equipment as before

Less pain and stress as there is no blood loss

Does not eliminate damage to other animals, handlers or the beast itself

Cattle dehorning

Procedures after dehorningMake sure the animal is left to bleed out freely

Avoid leaving animals in yards as they can pass on infection with open wounds

Straight onto good nutritional feed

Check on the animals a few times for a few days to ensure bleeding has stopped and no infection has occurred

Reasons horns should stayDehorning/disbudding is painful without meds

Takes time and money

Provide a secure point for roping or holding animals head

Traditional in some breeds e.g. Highland

Dealing with Horned CattleEven without horns cattle can be dangerous

Horned cattle are capable of causing severe injury using quick thrusts sideways and frontwards – Handlers need to be aware of the arc of the swing at all times

Never leave the cattle out of sight when working in yards as they are a smaller area than a paddock

Minimum stress when herding or dealing with horned animals as they know there horns can do damage

What MPI say“Cattle with horns are

dangerous – to people and to

other animals – and also

contribute to carcass downgrading” NZVA President

Dr. Richard Wild

“Calves should

be disbudded

early and with

proper pain

relief” (NZVA) &

(NZWAC)

“Dehorning as

calves is a

much safer

and less

traumatic for

both the

animal and the

handler”

NZVA

President Dr.

Richard Wild

“Sufficient animal management plans

insure that they disbudding is done at

the appropriate age for

the calves” NZVA President Dr. Richard

Wild

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/media/22-9-08/disbud-hurts Ministry of Primary

Industries

Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock_dehorning• This page was last modified on 22 May 2013 at 18:40, taken from:

• “RVCS List of Mutilator Procedures”. Retrieved 9 December 2011

• “Pain in animals”. Retrieved 3 October 2012

• “Peta video on dairy dehorning”. Peta. Retrieved 17 October 2012

• “Dehorning: ‘Standard Practice’ on Dairy Farms”. Anna Schecter & Drew Sandholm. ABC News, 28 January 2012

• The welfare of extensively managed dairy cattle - a review. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 42: 161-182. Hemsworth, P.H., Barnett, J.L., Beveridge, L. and Matthews, L.R. (1995).

• Beef Cattle Breeding & Management. Popular Books, French's Forest. Beattie, William A. (1990).

Referencehttp://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/media/22-9-08/disbud-hurts

http://www.nzva.org.nz/policies/dehorning-cattle-and-disbudding-calves-policy• Lisa Gibbison, Communications Adviser, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand,

• Dr Peter O’Hara, Chairman, National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC)

• Dr Richard Wild, President, NZVA

• 22 September 2008

http://www.dehorning.com/• 2013 H.W. Naylor Co

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1999/0142/latest/DLM49664.html• written by the New Zealand government. 14 October 1999 modified last July

2013