Disbudding question

[KimM]

I'm going to take the plunge and buy a dehorner. I need to know what is the best dehorner, what tips should I get, etc.?
Do you do it differently using different dehorners? Longer with some, not as long with others? Please, give me all the details!

[topside1]

Kim, I use the rhinehart x-30 and have no complaints. Disbudded a dozen goats, both bucks and does with no scurs post burn. I have also used it on five calves and the iron works just as well on them.....good luck choosing....

[KimM]

Well I ask because I had someone come and do a buckling for me early this year. The tip looks thin and worn out and he got bad scurs. It was the 30 he used. I want this to be as quick and efficient as possible because I'll be biting the bullet and doing it myself, squeamish as I am. (I know ... and it gets worse the older I get). And what is the ideal age for disbudding?

[LomahAcres]

I don't think it's the dehorner that will give you kids with scurs, but rather how well the job is done/skill of the person operating it. We have the rhinehart x-30 as well, first year we disbudded had some scurs on most all kids because we didn't keep it on long enough. Second year just the bucks, this year only 1 buck (started double burning the boys) got scurs Next years goal 0? I hope

We disbud as soon as you can feel the horn just rising up in the skin, but not yet broken through. I've had buck kids ready for disbudding on day 2, and some smaller doe kids not ready until 2 weeks of age.

[DocM]

Rhinehart X-30. I sand the tip between goats. You need to be patient and let it warm up sufficiently. Then harden your heart against the screeching and bear down.

Here's a good article on disbudding.

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/disbudding.htm

Instructions for assembling a kid box.

http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=385

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

I use a 50. I replace the tips with copper water fittings so the inside diameter of the burn is 3/4 inch and the wall is much thicker, you can fit your thumb in it. Most scurs are because the tip of the iron rocks on the horn bud. It does not seat and burn around it, killing the root.

Everyone will get scurs now and then, mine always seem to be on the first kids born of the year. Just watch the heads, hit them again if they don't fall off like normal. Vicki

[KimM]

Thank you for all the replies and the links! Now let's see if I'll actually be able to do this.

[Lizzieag]

I have the X-30 too and no scurs. It just takes time and patience, to get it right. Check your kids often after you dehorn them. If you start to see a scur, go ahead and redo that section. When they are little you can do that.

For bucks, I really like to remove the horn bud after dehorning, apply ice and let the area cool. Then after a few minutes, I go back over the area to make sure I got every little bit. Bucks are just tricky and are known for getting scurs. This double method seems to eliminate to chance of scurs.

Does and wethers are easy by comparison.

[Oldntimes]

I use the X-40 But what Vicki added was very interesting.

I replace the tips with copper water fittings so the inside diameter of the burn is 3/4 inch and the wall is much thicker

I wondererd about a thicker wall to cover more of the base.

Vickie do you have a Pic of this fitting? I would like to try that.:-)

[cowgirlracer]

I have a slightly different question. I have a X50 and the minute I plugged it in it tripped the breaker. Threw a spark and everything. My courage and determination to disbud my kids was gone with the spark It really gave me a scare. I put the iron back in he box and haven't touched it since. Do any of you electrically inclined goat owners have any suggestions? I will have kids again in the spring and I will need to figure this our before then.

Sorry for hijacking the thread . . .

Anne

[KimM]

Not at all! Since I'm considering which dehorner to buy, I would like to know as well. My DH is an industrial electrician - I'll ask him when he gets home.

Originally Posted by cowgirlracer

I have a slightly different question. I have a X50 and the minute I plugged it in it tripped the breaker. Threw a spark and everything. My courage and determination to disbud my kids was gone with the spark It really gave me a scare. I put the iron back in he box and haven't touched it since. Do any of you electrically inclined goat owners have any suggestions? I will have kids again in the spring and I will need to figure this our before then.

Sorry for hijacking the thread . . .

Anne

[mygoat]

I have a 20 amp breaker in my barn because running two deicers causes a 15 amp to break often.

I use an x50 with the normal sized goat attachement for all my goats kids. don't get suckered into buying the mini tip or the buck tip. Any burning you need to do can be done with the normal tip, imo.

My major tip of advice would be to allow the iron to heat up for a minute or two between horn buds on each kid. It drops temperature drastically when you disbud, and the second horn done successively has a higher chance of becoming a scur.

My favorite method for disbudding is to rock the iron around to make sure contact occurs all the way around. Look for a nice copper ring, and good luck!

[dosthouhavemilk]

We purchased an X50 last year because that is what the vet assistant used to burn our kids and calves. We got the tip with it.
I did end up with some scurs but that had more to do with my technique than anything. I only did about 8 last year before we ran out of kids. This year, there will be closer to 60-80 kids to burn, plus all the calves born with horns. I burned my first calf a week ago. Dad said it was the smoothest burning he's seen and the least amount of fuss from a calf.
With one of the does kids that had a bad disbudding job, I went in later and reburned her and the horn stopped growing.

If you want to come over this winter and watch me burn a few, and try one or two yourself, you are welcome to come over. We start kidding the 21st of Decemeber. Jane Doe is due the 23rd of December.

Practice makes perfect.

Edited to add- Disbud them within the first week...especially on your Boer buck kids! You might recall my shock when you mentioned the size your friend wanted the horns to be before disbudding them.

[KimM]

Hey thanks for the invitation!! That would be a great way for me to start out. Just let me know when.
That "friend" was my vet! He seems to know a lot about goats but I can't agree with the horns being 1/2" long before it's done.

Originally Posted by dosthouhavemilk

We purchased an X50 last year because that is what the vet assistant used to burn our kids and calves. We got the tip with it.
I did end up with some scurs but that had more to do with my technique than anything. I only did about 8 last year before we ran out of kids. This year, there will be closer to 60-80 kids to burn, plus all the calves born with horns. I burned my first calf a week ago. Dad said it was the smoothest burning he's seen and the least amount of fuss from a calf.
With one of the does kids that had a bad disbudding job, I went in later and reburned her and the horn stopped growing.

If you want to come over this winter and watch me burn a few, and try one or two yourself, you are welcome to come over. We start kidding the 21st of Decemeber. Jane Doe is due the 23rd of December.

Practice makes perfect.

Edited to add- Disbud them within the first week...especially on your Boer buck kids! You might recall my shock when you mentioned the size your friend wanted the horns to be before disbudding them.

[dosthouhavemilk]

I couldn't remember if it was your vet or a local breeder. lol
I like a little bit of horn, but just a little.

We have about 9 does due from the 21-31st of December. Then four due the 4th and 5th of January. Then we have a small break..then 23 does to kid from the 18th until the 31st of January...with 12 of them due from the 24th-26th.
I may be a bit loopy and really tired by that time, but if any of hat sounds good to you we can work out the details as kids start to arrive...lol

So...if you don't mind January....there will be lots to disbud then...lol
Yours are due starting in February, right? I assume you would want to visit before yours start arriving....
I have four does due in February (two on the 2nd, the others at the end of the month), then another 12 in March, and 6 in April. There are maybe two does I am not sure of and a number being held over for breeding in March...

[KimM]

I don't envy you AT ALL. January might be ok, depends on how things go here. Winter quarter starts up and my dad is having health problems (congestive heart failure). If everything is calm at that time, that sounds like a plan!

I can't wait to see Jane's babies!!!! Her doe that I kept is gorgeous, she's probably my favorite.

Yes, I have 7 due between the 20-27th of Feb. plus I just bought 2 fullblood does that are due between Feb. and Mar. sometime. The rest are due in April.
So if I come and help you, will you come and help me?

Originally Posted by dosthouhavemilk

I couldn't remember if it was your vet or a local breeder. lol
I like a little bit of horn, but just a little.

We have about 9 does due from the 21-31st of December. Then four due the 4th and 5th of January. Then we have a small break..then 23 does to kid from the 18th until the 31st of January...with 12 of them due from the 24th-26th.
I may be a bit loopy and really tired by that time, but if any of hat sounds good to you we can work out the details as kids start to arrive...lol

So...if you don't mind January....there will be lots to disbud then...lol
Yours are due starting in February, right? I assume you would want to visit before yours start arriving....
I have four does due in February (two on the 2nd, the others at the end of the month), then another 12 in March, and 6 in April. There are maybe two does I am not sure of and a number being held over for breeding in March...

[ozark_jewels]

Another vote for the X-50. Love it!!

[HazyDay]

Kim, I would see if Roseanna will come and help you dissbud them. I had a long time breeder come and help me out do my first kids this year. He did one for me then held the others when I burn't the horns.

Well the first one I did grew a scur on one side of his head and then the other 2 both grew 2 or 3 inch horns. So LET IT HEAT UP FOR ATLEAST 2 MINS BETEWEEN EACH DISSBUDING!

Also don't let them grow 1/2" thats a little nuts! But I did get my aunt a 3 week Alpine doeling to suck out her Saanen/Boer (who milks like a Saanen for the time of a Boer! ha!) Well the guy says "it's mean to burn horns!" So this does horns were broken out! And they did her horns 2 days after and she only grew a ting little scur (it grows up so they take a wire saw to it every time it grows.)

[KimM]

So what kind of tip do you use?
You're good at "how to's" - how about making a disbudding video? That would be oh-so helpful to us beginners!!

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Another vote for the X-50. Love it!!

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by KimM

So what kind of tip do you use?
You're good at "how to's" - how about making a disbudding video? That would be oh-so helpful to us beginners!!

I use the regular goat disbudding tip that comes with it when you buy from Hoeggers, etc.
I don't know about a disbudding video....LOL!! Maybe a picture sequence....but I think thats been done before.....

Here is a good thread on disbudding from a while back.
disbudding and mishaps