Procedure Livestock dehorning

dehorning can performed on older animals , performed local anesthesia (cornual nerve block) veterinarian or trained professional. removal of larger horns performed during spring , autumn avoid fly season. sedation may recommended, larger animals require increased restraint. use of longer-term pain medicine, nsaids, being researched in ensure food safety.

for mature cattle not dehorned when young, common practice cut off pointed end of horn. practice called horn tipping; less stressful on animal because there no blood loss , horn cut off there no longer nerve endings. practice not eliminate bruising damage done horns when cows fight, eliminate risk of puncture wounds , eye loss pointed horns.

disbudding minimizes discomfort , risk, , performed when horns small buds 1 of several methods:

cauterization process of killing growth ring of horn using heat. process done when cattle young, no more 3 or 4 weeks old—that way horns not big. earlier in calf s life cauterization done, less pain , stress inflicted on calf. cauterization done dehorning hot iron after area numbed local anesthesia.
a curved knife can used cut horn off when calf younger couple of months old. simple procedure horn , growth ring cut off remove horn.
for under 8 months of age, after horns starting grow attached skull, cup dehorner or gigli saw, type of surgical cutting wire, used. there several different types of cup dehorners, serve same function of removing horn , growth ring. since horn tougher takes more force remove tools provide leverage need. gigli saw wire used on horns of older calf’s horns have grown large cup dehorners.
the recent development in dehorning technology use of caustic dehorning paste. paste used on calves @ less 2 days old. hair around horn trimmed , paste spread on horn bud , around base of horn on growth cells. paste kills growth ring of horn , horn falls off scab when healed. however, method bears risk of paste causing injury animal s eyes or other tissues if used during periods of rain.

restraint methods

the animal dehorned restrained, either using dehorning table or chemical restraint —sedation. ensures dehorning procedure can done safely , properly. young calves run through head gate (similar cattle crush) or haltered. calves more few months old held in head gate , head restrained dehorning table or chin bar. smaller animals sheep , goats may restrained hand or use of halters.

pain control

in 2007, u.s. department of agriculture s (usda) national animal health monitoring system (nahms) survey suggested cattle in u.s. disbudded or dehorned without use of anesthesia @ time. survey showed more 9 out of ten dairy farms practiced dehorning, fewer 20 percent of cattle dairy operations used analgesics or anesthesia during process. while animal rights groups, humane society of united states, condemn practice of dehorning, ending mean increased horn-related injuries cattle , humans. polled genetics, long staple in beef cattle breeding becoming more popular among dairy farmers, more polled calves being born dairy cattle every year. genetic testing can determine if cattle carry genes growing horns.