Thinking about banding horns

[mygoat]

I have a mix of horned and disbudded goats in my herd. I've NEVER had a problem with the horned goats hurting another. But as the herd gets larger with the same amount of space, there has been some times when I thought for sure I"d be bandaging babies or tending to torn udders. I'm now disbudding all kids born but I have four adult mini does with horns and two bucks. The herd queen is a horned mini doe that I've had for 5 years since she was a kid. I've seen her butt all the others and throw babies with her horns. Now, she has blunted horns but it still scares me. No injures insofar, however. In fact the only 'butting' injury I've ever had was from a disbudded doe, lol. And none have ever injured me or anyone else, even accidentally. It's the possibility that they hurt each other that I'm wanting to band thier horns.

Next year my dad is fencing the back 18-20 acres with regular cattle fence, which horned goats readily get thier heads stuck in. He really doesn't want to run electric unless we have no other choice, so I'm thinking of banding horns. And selling them is NOT an option, so... this fall/early winter I was thinking of banding all my horned goats.

Now, I can see how does could easily have thier horns banded. My bucks have huge horn bases, and I don't know how the bands would be able to go down that far, or will they streach enough?

Also, what does banding horns actually do? Does it kinda cut off the horn at a certain height, or does it permanantly remove horns? Will banding have to be redone yearly or every other year? Is it in any way dangerous to the goats? Stressful/painful? I ask this because I'd be doing it in the fall, and I've heard it takes a while for the horns to fall off. I breed from Jan-March, and don't want them too stressed out for the breeding season.

Is there a really good website with pics or something that I could check out? or does anyone have pics to supply? Better yet, is there anyone in MI near to Brooklyn that would be willing to help me out when it comes time? LOL

[Oldntimes]

I have only banded Scurs and yes they do grow back. I have heard of banding horns. They usually cut a slit right at the base to hold the band. You want the band on the flesh so it will cut off the circulation to the horn.

http://www.barnonemeatgoats.com/bandinghorns.html

http://www.greatgoats.com/articles/dehorning.html

[LFmenagerie]

I am stewing over the same thing for reasons similar. Here is a web site that I found that explained and showed everything (except how to do those horns that stick straight up....maybe that's not an issue??
http://www.greatgoats.com/articles/dehorning_text.html

I'm dreading the deed! Good luck to us, both, when we have to do the 'deed'.

Pam in Mn

[mygoat]

I don't think I"d be as technical as to actually cut the goat open like that... can't imagine what it feels like after the pain meds fall off... though I can't imagine having just the band there feels too great either. But it doesn't seem like TOO hard a thing. Looks quite possible, Actually. The one site says it takes several months for the horns to fall off... is this true?

[horsehelper]

I have banded about 10 goats over the past several years, and have never had any grow back. As far as how long it takes, it varies a bunch. I've had some fall off in about 5 weeks, and a couple that have taken 3 months.
I don't cut a notch, but make sure I get the band down into the skin at the base, (easier if you shave the area first)then wrap several layers of duct tape around the horn right above the band to prevent the band rolling up. Check bands frequently as they do occasionally break.
The only one I've had completely fail is my Pygmy buck, whose horn bases are not at all round, but long and narrow. The pressure from the band must have concentrated at the front and back of the horn, and did cause him pain, so I removed the bands. My other goats have not shown any stress or pain except once the horn falls down, and then they get kind of ouchy about being touched on the head. Usually they end up knocking the horn off on a feeder or my leg. Most will bleed some, but it usually stops pretty quick, and if not, I'll apply blood stop powder. I prefer to do them at about 1 year...I have one old Nubian doe with huge horns, and I'd never even consider doing her. So she and my Pygmy buck remain the only horned goats on the place. But their horns are big enough, that they can't get their heads through the fences, and neither is mean with their horns.
It's one of those things I hate doing, but prefer it to surgical dehorning. Every kid born here is disbudded, and I hate that too, but consider it a necessary evil of goat raising. If you decide to do yours, just take your time, and make sure the bands are properly placed, and it should go smoothly.

[Oldntimes]

Yes....The scurs I did were Nigerians and being that the base is longer is most likely why my scurs come back. I also did not cut the skin I just applied the band.

[chamoisee]

No, you don't want to band horns. Disaster. Review previous threads on subject.

Cut/saw and burn.

[fcnubian]

I have banded horns with success but its a very tricky thing to do and you need to be prepared for ALOT of blood. More then likely each of your goats you band will not have their horns just falling off, they will be knocked off which will cause ALOT of blood. I had one like that. I wont post the pictures here because they are really nasty but if I did them up I'll PM you.

If you choose to go this method you need to be careful where you place the band. You place it too far up and you will have scurs. Its hard to get the band where it needs to be and I have only been able to get it correctly on two does. I dont use the banding method or any dehorning methods except disbudding kids unless I have to. When banding the horns you have to watch for infection. And you need to catch any infection early so you can get it treated.

I'm not saying DONT do it. but definately read up all you can on it and you will get some very different opinions on banding horns. Alot of people look at it as cruel. I've been told that all the time and I just kindly say "We'll have to simply agree to disagree."

I see where you are coming from though. I HATE horned animals and will NEVER own another one. Too many injuries, too many heads stuck in fences and I will not have it here. Only one goat has horns and its my pygmy buck. I had no choice in the matter as I got him at 2 weeks and there was no way I could disbud him. I turned down 3 free beautiful toggenburg/crosses because of horns.

I know of some good links the explains the banding method. I'll try to find them for you.


When I banded the goats I used clippers shaved all around the horns. I had my helper with me. I would lock their heads between my thighs and hold their horns while the other person clipped around them. After they were clipped. I'd give the goat to the other person. (This only works if the horns are only a few inches long.) Then I used a marker to mark where the skin started at the base of the horn. I got the bander ready and placed the band. And for extra help to keep the band from sliding I used duct tape around it.

I had alot of blood stop powder on hand and when the horns appeared to be getting fairly loose I'd try to get them separated. I did that successfully with one doe. The others the herd queen headed butted and knocked them off.