Dehorning of horned cows is the process of removing their horns or preventing their growth. It is recommended that it should be carried out on young calves to minimize hazards to the calf and people who work around them.
Some of these hazards include decreased body weight gain in weeks following dehorning of older calves. Reduced body weight gain may follow coupled with a decline in productivity and stress.
Importance of dehorning young calves.
- Dehorning calves at a young stage reduces the risk of injuring and bruising the rest of the herd. In worst cases, Injures have caused deaths in animals or chronic wood that never heal. The farmer is left with the option of disposing of the animal or the high cost of treatment.
- It saves space in the feeding section and other barn areas. Protruding horns require wider feeds and water troughs which is not economical.
- The risk of death, illness or any other setback is minimal in young calves instead when older ones.
- It produces docile cattle that are easier to handle and decrease aggressiveness at the feeding area.
- Early dehorning enhances farm safety for the workers: vets and even the animals.
However, it’s good to note that dehorning should be carried out during hot weather seasons. Cows tend to heal faster in hot weather compared to cold weather. Read Also: How to feed dairy cows for high milk yields.
Disbudding by chemical or hot iron destroys producing cells of the horn bud. Surgical disbudding removes the horn and the horn-producing cells of the horn bud.
Dehorning removes the horn and horn-producing tissue after horns have formed from the bud using a dehorning wire or the band.
Disbudding and dehorning should be done by qualified licensed and reputable health personnel or you might end up losing the animal.
