Dehorning is not a new subject nor is it a new phase of veterinary medicine. However, in recent years, dehorning has taken on more importance and the potential of becoming a controversial practice in the future.
According to University of Missouri livestock specialist Eldon Cole, polled cattle cannot be kept with horned animals without risking injury to cattle and their handlers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in 2007, “94 percent of dairy farms practice dehorning.”
Darren Loula, DVM, whose clinic services Christian County, Missouri, said, “Earlier is better. The best tool for dehorning calves is a polled bull.” Cole agreed that the, “best time to dehorn is at conception” using polled bulls resulting in polled offspring. When polled stock are not an option, a number of methods are available for dehorning.
“Methods vary according to age, size of the horn and time of year,” said Cole. When cattle owners must make a choice, “dehorning paste used at one week up to two or three months old provides the best results.” When using paste, caution must be taken since the chemicals are caustic.
As an alternate method, Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Area Extension Food Animal and Health specialist, recommended the Barnes dehorner for calves up to three or four months old. Sparks described the instrument as “two sharp-edged scoops hinged together. Opening them forcefully brings the cutting edges together to scoop out the horn buds. A 1-1.5 cm rim of haired skin should be removed along with the entire horn base to prevent regrowth,” said Sparks. Since diseases can be spread from animal to animal, it is essential to disinfect dehorners after each procedure.
Another equally effective method, according to Cole, is the hot cautery dehorner or hot iron. “The iron is heated to red hot and placed over the horn to burn a ring of skin at the base of the horn. The horn is not removed but is allowed to slough off,” said Cole.
For cattle over three months old, Cole and Sparks recommended the Keystone dehorner. “This is a guillotine type instrument with detachable blades. The instrument is capable of dehorning the largest cow horns and most bull horns,” said Cole. According to Cole, this method often requires controlling hemorrhage, which can be accomplished by using forceps to pull the cornual artery.
Advantages and disadvantages exist for each dehorning method. Cole and Loula said producers should consult with their veterinarian for advice prior to attempting unfamiliar procedures and for administering pain control (sedation, anesthesia and analgesia).
Since dehorning and disbudding are surgical procedures animals require observation and aftercare following the surgery. Equally as important as the method is the time of year and time of day in which dehorning is performed. “Early in the day is best so owners can be on guard for hemorrhaging or complications,” said Cole. “If at all possible, dehorning should be done in cooler weather when flies are less of a problem.”
“Dehorned cattle that have healed are invariably more valuable on sale day,” said Loula. “Horned cattle have no additional value other than aesthetics and their ability to protect themselves from wild animals,” said Cole.
