Best time to use dehorn paste

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:07 pm

Personally, I don't like the idea of using dehorning paste, but a friend has a heifer with 1" horns (born in August) and was wondering if she can use the paste. There are now parts of Vancouver Island which no longer have livestock vets so they don't have a lot of options as it is very costly to pay for 2 hours of travel and many vets won't travel.

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:56 pm

Hi Kathy, my advice.....dont bother, its very hit and miss with a good percentage of regrowth.

ann · Post by **ann** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:08 pm

Hi Kathy

I have used the paste for around 10yrs with mainly very good results however you must do it within the 1st seven days and for the best results around 4 days old and you must keep the mother away from the calf for at least 1½ to 2 hrs as if they lick the calf it will reduce the efficiency of the paste. I recently change from the old style I used to a new one which is much easier to apply but the first year I got a couple with regrowth and now I put a bit more on and and hopefully so far this year fingers crossed they all seem o.k. However you must stay with then for at least ½ hr to make sure they don't rub it of. the one thing I like about the paste is that you never have trouble with flies, and they never seem to both after the first ½hr. I normally pen the calf up with some hurdles and tie it up at the back of the pen, this way mum never seems to get stressed, and she is not able to lick the calf.

I do find the instructions are rather vague so if anyone is interested e-mail me and I will e-mail you back with how I do it.

Ann

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:12 pm

Thanks, Ann. Looks like this person will have to get the vet in or sell it as is and let someone else decide. Boy, am I glad I have not one, but 3 vets in my area. There are a few large animal vets around elsewhere on the Island but they are now doing only horses. That tells you something about real estate prices around here

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:19 pm

And that they're not being very professional about their occupation. If animals need help, then they should be willing to help with their expertise. Animal owners shouldn't be put it the situation where they can't get a vet to deal with their animals. Could your friend take the calf in a trailer, to visit the vet for dehorning?

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:57 pm

Inger says "If animals need help, then they should be willing to help with their expertise. Animal owners shouldn't be put it the situation where they can't get a vet to deal with their animals."

This raises the issue of what should be done in areas of either low farm stock density or where the animals are not worth enough to justify veterinary attention economically.
In many areas of the UK it is becoming very difficult to maintain farm vet services and even more difficult to maintain 24 hour cover for farm stock. Small animal vets can easily cooperate for out of hours cover or use services set up to provide that cover, but it is not so easy for farm work, especially when distances are large. Many vets now are not prepared to work in practices where there is a lot of out of hours work, many will not do any farm work. At the end of the day if a newly qualified vet is looking at a reasonable salary and no "on call" for small animal work, compared to poorer salary and one night in 2 or 3 on call and the same for weekends, which do you think looks most attractive?

In the UK vets are obliged to provide 24hour cover, and to abide by the European Working Time directive - totally impossible unless your practice area can support at least 6 vets full time. Not much hope for the next generation of 1 or 2 vet practices here then.

Duncan,

(having a rant whilst doing a lot of bookwork on a wet Saturday.)

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:28 pm

I thank my lucky stars that I have a really good practice available here; many practices nowadays are confined to small animals. If you are in the wrong area it is becoming ever more difficult. Today I have a much better service from my vet than my doctor; I recently tried to obtain help at 3 a.m. I finally had a telephone reply at 7 a.m. I f I had called my vet to see to a cow, I would have had a visit within the hour. I am sure I am living on borrowed time as far as the vet is concerned; it is the trend today, to think more about life spent outside the career as priority.

Beryl (Woodmagic)

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:36 pm

We have the same here. Most vets seem to be the small animal variety. But we are really lucky to have an expanding, strictly farm practice covering our area, and they are just excellent. They don't do dogs, cats or even horses.

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:29 pm

We are well blessed here in West Wales with two practices and one other specialising in horses with an operating theatre and all that goes with it. The other good thing about them is they will call in on the way passed to check on things and not charge you call out YIPPEE!!!:D