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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:17 pm
by Saffy
It should be done as soon as you can feel tiny buds of horn. Sometimes this can be almost as soon as they are born. My vets, if they are doing the job charge a set price for de horning for the first 6 weeks. This is because it can be a bigger job once they get older.
So I would say asap, certainly within 6 weeks of birth.
Stephanie
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:04 pm
by redhill
Hello Di
even though we dont take our horns off , I'm sure Duncan will agree, leave well alone until the flies have gone, we sold a cow and calf last month and the purchaser asked that the calf was de horned, our Vet did this, and gave her an antibiotic injection, she stayed in with mum (so very little stress) ,but within 24hrs of letting her out she had two running sores, we brought her back in treated the wounds, and inside she stayed until her new owner came to collect her, he has also kept her inside untill the wounds heal. I dont know which part of the country youre from Di but here in the Forest of Dean the flies are a real pain.
sue castlemears herd
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:04 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Yes I do very much agree on the fly part, my own herd calves mainly April/May, and no horns are touched until late September or even October. I do not like caustic paste as I am sure it is very painful for quite a long time, and disbudding May born calves is likely to result in maggots. I usually use plenty of local anaesthetic and saw the horns off when they old enough and free of fly time. Fly time here in West of Scotland has extended in recent years at both ends of the season. The saw seems a bit brutal but the wounds heal very quickly and it gives the operator the chance to get the angle and amount removed right, which can be difficult with Dexters.
Duncan
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:04 am
by Broomcroft
There aren't many flies around here either, I think they've all drowned.
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:16 pm
by Pennielea
I used to dehorn using a gas Iron a week after calves were born until I used a 'polled' bull. It is extremely difficult to tell with some calves whether they are polled or horned. I have registered calves as polled and subsequently had to change to horned when they developed horns at up to six months. I now leave all until October times like Duncan and get the vet. to saw them off. It is important to avoid flies and frost. I leave bullocks with their horns until slaughter as dehorning can set them back by two or three months in my opinion.
Ian