de-horning

Oakwell, · Post by **Oakwell,** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:38 pm

Hi can any one help me by tell me the best age to de-horn a calve using a modern portable butane de-horner, and if you would recommend a local anasthetic. is it nessecary to remove scurs or just leave them.
thank you Nigel :p

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:29 pm

Disbudding can be done from a few eg 3 or 4 weeks old as long as you can identify the bud. You may also need to take possible fly strike afterwards into account when deciding when to do the job.

If you are in UK local anaesthetic is not just a recommendation it is a legal requirement - if you do not know how to administer it properly get some tuition from someone who is competent to teach you. Without anaesthetic it is a very painful process, and local anaesthetic is not expensive. I used to do courses in such matters for ATB but that was a long time ago and such things seem to have fallen by the wayside in this part of the country.

As a vet I have to say that I find Dexters more difficult to dehorn well than most cattle, it is very easy to have partial regrowth which is always disappointing and unsightly.

Oakwell, · Post by **Oakwell,** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:37 pm

Hi thanks for that I will try to find a willing teacher, but what about tyhe scurs.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:06 am

If they are true scurs they will not be likely to get to any size, but might look a bit unsightly on a show animal. Scurs do not usually have any bony part.

Duncan

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:00 pm

Even before we bought our Dexters we were told, "they are difficult to dehorn and you must make sure to go deep enough" - so we did!

Stephanie

:D

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:14 pm

I see you have docked the tail as well.

Duncan

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:19 pm

Yes Duncan saves trimming the mucky ends in Winter!

Stephanie

carole · Post by **carole** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:46 pm

just a thought Nigel our local agricultural college are always looking for practical work for their students (e.g de horning, ear tagging), obviously this is done under very strict supervision and the students and their tutor who come to do ours are always very careful to ensure that the anaesthetic has taken before they start unlike some scary stories I have heard. May be an idea for you.

Oakwell, · Post by **Oakwell,** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:20 pm

looks like the iron was a bit too hot Saffy !! great picture ir certainly brought a giggle when I scrolled down.
Great Idea with the Agricultural college, never thought of that one,

Nigel

ann · Post by **ann** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:25 pm

If you don't have a local Ag college see if you have a smallholders group as these are a mind of info and might be able to advice you if there are any training days around. If you have any beef farmers around maybe you could offer to help next time they have a dehorning day free for some tuition. I use the paste on mine although I do have a farming brother who will do them for me if I ask, but he's use to big continentals in a crush and dexter calves who do not wish to be dehorned are a challenge on the back as you get older. So much easier to do them at a couple of days old. Plus you never have to worry about fly strike.