The Deal with Dehorning

The primary reason for disbudding or dehorning cattle or goats is for animal and handler safety. Furthermore, most breeds are required to be disbudded for show.

The following guidelines are applicable for cattle and goats. Sheep dehorning is not recommended. Disbudding or dehorning protocols should be discussed and reviewed with your established veterinarian.

1. Age

a. Disbudding can be completed within 5 to 14 days of life for goat kids. Goat horns grow REALLY fast, so best practice is to DISBUD, not DEHORN.

b. After 14 days, the procedure becomes dehorning and is more complex. For cattle we recommend 2 weeks to 2 months of age.

c. Mature Dehorning > 2 months of age, should be considered on a case-by-case basis and is not ideal for cosmetic reasons due to increased risk.

2. Method

a. For cattle and goats, the use of a hot iron is the most encouraged method.

b. Other methods such as caustic paste and banding are not recommended due to increased risk for failure (development of scurs), pain, and infection.

c. The use of polled genetics is encouraged.

3. Pain Management

a. Local anesthetic such as a nerve block is recommended to minimize stress and pain during the procedure.

b. Sedation is recommended for disbudding or dehorning procedures in goats and should be discussed with your veterinarian.

c. The use of anti-inflammatory medications post-operation are encouraged to reduce pain during the recovery period. Oral or injectable medications are available and benefits of each vary depending on production management.

d. Some medications recommended for disbudding or dehorning require prescriptions and should be discussed within a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR)

For more information on disbudding, dehorning, and other procedures, please review the

American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) guidelines and reach out to your veterinarian.

https://www.aabp.org/about/Guidelines_PositionStatements.asp