? about scurs

[silverseeds]

Well I bought a nigerian buck awhile back. Im sure all you folks know about them, but they messed up disbudding him and i guess he has what are called scurs. are these a danger to him? I got him for a great price considering his lines because of this. His direct relatives sell for much more then I paid, but now Im wondering if this is more then just an aesthetic issue.

should I be concerned? there are no good vets for goats anywhere around here.

[Shayanna]

If the scurs are just a little wild looking, it shouldn't hurt them. If they are nubs they might get knocked off. However if they are large and dangerous, like about to irritate or grow back into the animals heads, they need to be either surgically removed or filed down periodically to keep them from doing damage to the animal. Make sure to only file about half an inch or so at the time to avoid blood vessels.

[KrisD]

Nope no problem. Lots of goats have them, they're just ugly. If they are wiggly just grap with pliers and they pop off easy. One scurs grow out strange like into their heads, those should be trimmed occasionally. Bucks have lots of hormones even at birth and that makes it hard to disbud without scurs. Of course lots of people do it properly and at the right time but it is common. No biggie

[The Tin Mom]

Bucks are really difficult to disbud. We have only had one that didn't get scurs. Our herdsire was disbudded by a very reputable breeder with 15 - 20 years experience with goats, and he has scurs. We watch to make sure that they aren't curving into his head or causing other issues.

About two years ago, we had to have the vet come out & he used a heated wire that cauterized the scur as it removed the portion that was causing issues. Since then, the scurs on that goat have grown fairly straight and we haven't had any other issues. It was really cool and I would love to have one of those heated wires.

[SeaGoat]

From what Ive read is they just grow a little weaker than a normal horn. If its a goat who likes to head but or is picked on a lot Id just watch out for it breaking off and bleeding

[silverseeds]

Thanks everyone! Hes a year or so old now, and they arent growing into his head or anything. If they ever start to do so what do I use to file them? Just a regular file?

[CaliannG]

A hoof file works well on them. Just be careful to only take off a LITTLE bit.

Treat them like you would claws in dogs, cats, or birds...just file down the ends.

[silverseeds]

Thanks again!! Im actually just about to order a hoof file, what a D'OH moment that was reading that.. All of them came well manicured, but its about time to start on their hooves soon, with the nubians anyway. My nigerians all still look great.

[LoneStrChic23]

Just brought home a buck with big scurs....... Gosh do I ever hate scurs..... I'm a bloody, bruised mess after a doctoring round on him

Some scurs are no biggey, others you have to maintain just like you would hooves. One of mybucks scurs curves around & grows into his flesh if not trimmed regularly..... Thankfully for me, he busted it off in a head butting match, so I won't have to trim for a while

I trim feet for a friend & when I do I use a dremel on her bucks scurs..... Works great

[KrisD]

I use hoof nippers to trim a half inch to an inch off the stubborn ones hen file with a rasp so they aren't sharp. Use your milk stand for this. None of mine have scurs that are a problem just ugly. The loose ones I grab with pliers and when they yank their heads away off pops the scur.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Some sharp type clippers, horse nippers or a Horn Wire Saw will be much quicker at taking a little of the scur off every once in awhile rather than a hoof or regular file & thinking he's going to stand still for that.

[Shayanna]

My husband just uses his carpenter knife on the goat's hooves. Just shave off the excess and it works great.