Dehorning baby calves

[blackjack]

Just wondering what method is the best? Using paste or burning the horns off?

[15444]

Of the two methods, burn them off. Neighbours use paste on their calves and when it works, it does a good job. But if it doesn't work, then the calf will grow mangled horns that have to be sawed off later on (which is a real pain).

Personally, I think Barnes dehorners during the late summer is the best combination to lop horns off with. Low stress, quick and good results. Best of Luck!

[dalek]

Have used paste and I agree with the above, also I've seen calves lose eyes and with their skulls exposed from paste applied wrong. I use a Rhinehart dehorner with Lidocaine for freezing, works well.

[amazed]

We prefer to dehorn genetically but when we do get a horned calf we use paste. Got rid of the squeeze tube type years ago as it ran and even caused bleeding.

We switched to Doc Naylor's in the brown bottle with a popsicle stick. Works well for us.

[bombay_43]

We like to try to breed for no horns as well. However when a heifer that we are keeping, has horns, we use the elastrator! Works great, no stress, no bleeding, horns fall off during grazing season.

[15444]

Started herd as a polled herd, but introduced horned bulls last year through AI. Always thought every good old cow should have a pair if they don't have some other animal (i.e. llama) in with them for protection. Looking to run herd half polled and half horned and will dehorn all the calves & yearlings that are sold for feeders and bulls that are kept. My cows are about the easiest bunch you could ever work around, so horns aren't any huge risk for me.

[hgb]

We've tried them all the systems from paste, electric buddex,butane heated irons, home made irons used at branding,or in the fall with several different kinds of dehorners. Dr. Naylors horn paste wins out for us, as we have found it to be a superior product over other pastes.

[dfarms11]

Dr Naylors all the way

[dfarms11]

bombay, at what age and how big a horn do you put on the elastic, and how long about untill it falls off?

[cowman]

Dr Naylors is the only way to go if you use paste. The trick of the trade to using paste is do it early(one day old if possible) and sc**** that scruff off the horn button. Don't clip the hair around the horn button, just pull it back and apply with a popsicle stick, then pull the hair back up so the calf doesn't rub it off on the cow. If you miss a couple just snip them off when you vaccinate for black leg. The little two pipe type of dehorner works really well. No excuse for leaving horns on cattle until they are big.

[bombay_43]

We usually dehorn any heifers that we are keeping, when they are about 14 to 16 months old. We use the green elastics that you use for casterating baby calves. Put the elastics as close to the skull as possible and make certain there is no hair between the horn and the elastic. The odd time she will shake her head as it appears to bother her, but it does not last long.

The size is dependant on how big your elastrator is. The tool has to fit around the horn. It is surprising how large a horn this works on.

It usually takes a couple of months and you will see the horns start to loosen and then fall off. We have always had good luck with this method.
They seem to be less stressed and no bleeding.

[pandiana]

We use horn past. Without a doubt this is the most cosmetic effect...calves will appear almost polled. We have had problems with calves rubbing it off. Saw a tip in Cattlemen where duct tape was used over past to keep it from being licked or rubbed off. We tried it the other day but the jury is still out on its effectiveness.

[grassfarmer]

I prefer to burn the horns off but not as much as I prefer polled cattle! The few horned calves we get we burn off at spring processing so calves will be up to 2 months old. With a hot iron I can do a calf in under three minutes - no freezing as it takes more time than the actual burning. Our calves thus treated look "polled" as Pandiana says.

[farmboy1]

I love my butane dehorner. Quick and easy. No re-charging, just a 4 second re-filling. Can do calves up to 3 months old, but 3-4 weeks is much better and easier.

[blackjack]

Thanks for the replies, Ranchers! I'm leaning little more towards farmboy1 method , wanting to vaccinate and dehorn before we load them up to go to pasture. Just started calving , should be right size for June 1 .