disbudding

mary,tx · #1 12/09/13, 10:39 PM

As soon as this awful weather breaks, I'm going to have to disbud some kids that should have been done the end of last week.

I'm hoping y'all will share your foolproof methods of burning and not getting scurs. Because, oddly, I have not gotten better at it over the years. I even bought a new iron a year or two ago thinking it was because my iron was getting old and not heating well enough.

I still got scurs last year.

I'm even wondering how awful it would be if I cut off the knob inside that copper ring with my hoof cutters, then quickly reburned with the flat side of the iron.

Suggestions?

punchiepal · #2 12/10/13, 01:58 AM

What breed? (maybe someone has more pointers)
Scurs on bucks or does or both?

3 things - Make sure your iron is plugged in as close as
possible to the main electrical panel, don't use extension cords, and make sure the iron is RED hot. We put the iron inside of a can (take off the label) to keep the heat contained.

We do exactly what you are thinking, cut off the center of the horn with a hoof trimmers or snap off carpentry knife. I like the knife better. Have a folded paper towel ready and don't cut right way. We burn, wait a little, then cut. Maybe it's only 30-60 secs. but it seems like if you cut right away they bleed more.

Cannon_Farms · #3 12/10/13, 07:07 AM

I dont have time right at the moment to find and post the link but I filmed my guy doing it and posted it on my face book page listed below, he is the fastest and never had scurs even on bucks.

Cannon_Farms · #4 12/10/13, 07:13 AM

Pinehollow · #5 12/10/13, 08:19 AM

ugh... that just looks so painful....

GraceAlice · #6 12/10/13, 08:38 AM

I know...

mary,tx · #7 12/10/13, 09:12 AM

Well, it is, but it doesn't take long and a bottle makes them quickly forget. Saves on them getting their little heads stuck in fences all the time.

Thanks, Cannon_Farms for the video. It's hard to tell in the video exactly how he did it, but he seems to have somehow gotten the cap off. That's the part I have been unsure about.

And yes I have been getting scurs on does and bucks alike, even though I get the nice copper ring.

I feel that getting the cap off is what I am missing.

punchiepal, thanks for the advice and shared experience on waiting a minute to cut

Mine are Nubians.

punchiepal · #8 12/10/13, 10:58 AM

A friend of mine raises nubians and he says he burns for "a count of ten" twisting the iron back and forth as he does it.

We have nd's and mini saanens, both hard burners, and we just can't keep the iron on for that long. Dh would rather do 2 burns that are shorter than a longer burn.

Actually, according to that same friend, after the first second it doesn't hurt. Yes, he burned himself a good one with a hot iron. They scream just b/c they don't like to be restrained. I shave all heads before we burn, to reduce smoke and see the ridges on the bucks, and they scream just as bad then as when we burn them.

Cannon_Farms · #9 12/10/13, 09:32 PM

I have another video of him doing a doe kid, and yes they are usually more upset by being restrained and head shaved, as soon as that iron hits all the nerves are deadend.
the copper ring isnt as important and can often cause complications from a longer burn than needed. This video is slowed down as we where trying to video to show that people where going through a lot of trouble.
This breeder that does mine is a Nigerian breeder and ADGA judge the sad stories he can tell where the whole cap of the head is commonly burnt off in some areas of the us to prevent scurs when all you have to do is burn that figure 8, never any scurs on anything he does.
This kidding season we are going to be doing a new video. I do suggest one practice on a watermelon before they go out for a new kid and use proper restraint and equipment.

Laura Workman · #10 12/11/13, 01:48 AM

Yep, that movie shows a good and proper buck burn. A fat figure 8, with the first part centered over the horn bud and the second part forward and slightly to the inside. I have a Rhinehart X30, which gets hotter than my X50. I burn in five second shots, resting several seconds in between tries to let the brain cool off. After the first one or two burns, you can use the iron tip to flip off the horn bud, leaving that glistening white cartilage. Cauterize with the iron as necessary. Once I have a good, dry wound on both horn buds, I hit it with AluShield Aerosol Bandage. It makes a cute little tin-foil looking hat and protects the wound. CAUTION: AluShield is quite flammable, so make sure any cauterizing is done BEFORE applying the spray. Otherwise you can get a kid with its head in flames. I did it once and it was quite exciting! Fortunately, the kid wasn't hurt at all, just a bit of singed hair before I got the fire put out by laying my gloved hand across his flaming head. I get the occasional scur on a buck kid, but not very often, and I do a lot of kids. Oh, be sure you do bucks between 3 and 7 days old. Any older and you greatly increase your chances of getting scurs.