Dehorning heifers/cow question

[MaryF]

Hi all,
while Im asking questions, heres one other I need to network on...

I have 2 heifers that are 1 1/2 yrs old, both have horns, and a 2 1/2yr old cow with the same. We just brought them home last weekend.
I dont think I can do this horns thing...so after calling around, Ive learned there are 2 ways to do it.
One is to pull the vein, the other is to just cotterize (sp) it...how should I decide which way to go?
Literally, one vet Only does it one way, the other vet the opposite.
Mary

[Philip]

Hi Mary. Yes, at that age they're definately too old to have it done except by a vet under anaesthetic. Even though they're mature animals cauterizing should do the job, although either way, both work. Have you got a cattle crush, or a neighbour that you can drive them to, to have it done, as they won't stand still while the vet does his biz.
If you intend to bred from them, try to get a naturally polled sire (eg Angus) as the offspring will also be polled and you won't have to worry about de-budding young calves

[Oxankle]

At that age the horn is hollow at the base and the hollow extends into the animals sinus cavities.

To dehorn you will have to restrain the animal so that you can hold the head motionless, then saw or cut off the horn below the hairline. The blood vessels will spurt blood; you can grab them with locking forceps and pull them out, then cover the bleeder with blood-stop powder.

The cut can be made with dehorners (made for the purpose, handles like hedge loppers, a blade that works in a channel and forces its way thru the horn), saws or obstetrical saw wire. These wounds heal slowly, but done properly the animal grows skin over the wound and has no ill effects afterward. Some vets have a saw much like a skilsaw with a round hole situated so that when the hole is placed over the cow's horn the blade will make the proper cut. So far as I know anaesthetic is not used.

All in all, dehorning grown animals is a thankless task, but profitable. A horned animal bought at auction, dehorned, wormed and fed just a bit will turn a profit when run back thru. I know a fellow who buys such animals and does just that. He uses the lopper type dehorners.
Ox

[pygmywombat]

An alternative to opening the animals head up to get the whole horn out is to lop them off right at the skull with an OB saw. The farmer we bought our cow from does this- he says it doesn't bleed much and the cow recovers faster.

[Ronney]

Hi Mary,
Over here it is illegal to dehorn cattle of that age without local anaesthitic and the preferred method is to use obstetric saw wire. You will definately need to have the use of a head bail and if possible, choose a cool windy day with no rain in sight. As has been mentioned, the horn opens into the sinus canal and if water gets into it you will have, at best, a very sick animal, at worst, a dead one.

What do you intend to use these animals for. I only ask because I leave the horns on all the cattle I intend to keep on-farm. Ergo, all my milking cows, the bull and anything grown for the freezer still have their horns. The only ones dehorned are those that will eventually go to the works. I don't find horns a problem. I do lease a bull once a year to put back over the daughters of my existing bull and always ensure that it is an Angus so that I don't have the problem of dehorning offspring.

As Ox said, dehorning is a thankless task and I hate it in older animals, but if your going to use a vet, there shouldn't be too many problems.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Highland]

I dont care for burning them-heals to slow I think.I use a Keystone dehorning shear and pull the bleeders.Then I cover the hole with cotton soaked in cerolin and have had no problems.As was mentioned earlier a thankless job at best.

[unioncreek]

MaryF,

What is the reason for dehorning? If your going to keep them for a while to me it doesn't matter. I have longhorns and them having horns doesn't change anything on raising or dealing with them. I still run my through a squeeze chute and don't have any problems doing it.

Bobg