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or a trained professional, although a 2011 study showed that only 10% of dairy farmers follow guidelines. Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season. In very large horns, "tipping" (removal of the tip of the horn) may be recommended to minimize bleeding.
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gene can occur naturally in particular breeds or easily manipulated during breeding to lack horns, therefore do not need to be dehorned or disbudded. Although polling is common among cattle and sheep, some varieties of livestock species cannot easily be bred to lack horns naturally. In one case, the
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In 2007, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey suggested that most cattle in the U.S. were disbudded or dehorned without the use of anesthesia at that time. The survey showed that more than nine out of ten dairy farms practiced dehorning,
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At the same time, research shows that calves who have been disbudded stay less active and suckle more often than the intact controls for at least three weeks after the procedure. This is likely due to their attempts to avoid disturbing partially healed wounds and to relieve discomfort, respectively.
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Dehorning (removing fully grown horns) without the use of anesthesia is extremely painful to the animal. A 2011 study that surveyed 639 farmers found that 52 percent of farmers reported that disbudding caused pain lasting more than six hours, that only 10 percent of the farmers used local anesthesia
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was held in
Switzerland on providing additional subsidies to farmers that did not dehorn their livestock (75–90% of livestock in Switzerland had their horns removed). The referendum was a result of farmer Armin Capaul collecting over 100,000 signatures for a vote on the issue. However, the proposal
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The most recent development in dehorning technology is use of a caustic dehorning paste. The paste is used on calves at less than two days old. The hair around the horn is trimmed back and then the paste is spread all over the horn bud and around the base of the horn on the growth cells. The paste
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For mature cattle that were not dehorned when they were young, another common practice is to cut off only the pointed end of the horn. This practice is called horn tipping; it is less stressful on the animal because there is no blood loss and the horn is cut off where there are no longer any nerve
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is the process of killing the growth ring of the horn using heat. This process is done when cattle are very young, no more than three or four weeks old—that way the horns are not very big. The earlier in the calf's life cauterization is done, the less pain and stress is inflicted on the calf.
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but fewer than 20 percent of cattle dairy operations used analgesics or anesthesia during the process. While animal rights groups, like the Humane
Society of the United States, condemn the practice of dehorning, ending it would mean increased horn-related injuries to cattle and humans.
301:(a type of surgical cutting wire) is used. There are several different types of cup dehorners, but they all serve the same function of removing the horn and growth ring. Since the horn is tougher it takes more force to remove it so tools that provide some leverage are need.
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or a trained professional. Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season. Sedation may be recommended, especially for larger animals that require increased restraint. Use of longer-term pain medicine, like
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Dehorning is not routinely performed, since it is a difficult and painful process for the animal. Instead, most breeders disbud their animals while young, when the process is quick and easy. Dehorning is controversial because of the pain it causes.
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kills the growth ring of the horn and then the horn falls off like a scab when it is healed. However, this method bears a risk of the paste causing injury to the animal's eyes or other tissues if used during periods of rain.
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The animal to be dehorned is usually restrained, often with a dehorning table, or sedated. This ensures that the dehorning procedure can be done safely and properly. Young calves are run through a head gate (similar to a
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Horns are removed because they can pose a risk to humans, other animals and to the bearers of the horns themselves (horns are sometimes caught in fences or prevent feeding). Dehorning is only recommended with local
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is a different process with similar results; it cauterizes and thus destroys horn buds before they have grown into horns. Disbudding is commonly performed early in an animal's life, as are other procedures such as
327:) or haltered. Calves more than a few months old are held in a head gate and their head restrained with a dehorning table or chin bar. Smaller animals like sheep and goats may be restrained by hand or with use of
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A curved knife can be used to cut the horn off when the calf is younger than a couple of months old. It is a simple procedure where the horn and the growth ring is cut off to remove the horn.
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endings. This practice does not eliminate the bruising damage done by the horns when cows fight, but it does eliminate the risk of puncture wounds and eye loss from pointed horns.
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While disbudding is intended to minimize discomfort, there is evidence that the calves experience elevated distress for at least three weeks after the procedure.
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It suggests that painkiller medication may need to be administered for a much longer period after the procedure, rather than just right before it.
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Hemsworth, P.H.; Barnett, J.L.; Beveridge, L.; Matthews, L.R. (1995). "The welfare of extensively managed dairy cattle - a review".
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In very hot climates, horns are useful for thermoregulation and cooling due to the presence of blood vessels at the tip of the horn
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American
Veterinary Medical Association Backgrounder: Welfare implications of the dehorning and disbudding of cattle
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Disbudding minimizes discomfort and risk, and is performed when horns are small "buds" by one of several methods:
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For under eight months of age, but after the horns are starting to grow attached to the skull, a cup dehorner or
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In some areas horns are of cultural significance, often being decorated or even trained into strange shapes.
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Cauterization is usually done with a dehorning hot iron after the area is numbed with local anesthesia.
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In some breeds and in some individuals, horns may grow towards the head, eventually causing injury.
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breeding are becoming more popular among dairy farmers, with more polled calves being born to
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Horned livestock are better able to defend themselves and their young from predators such as
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Horned animals take up more space, causing issues at the feed bunk and during transportation.
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wire is used on horns of older calf's horns that have grown too large for the cup dehorners.
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Horned animals may become more aggressive than those without horns, especially around feed.
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Adcock, Sarah J. J.; Downey, Blair C.; Owens, Chela; Tucker, Cassandra B. (26 July 2023).
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in a single study several decades ago, although fertile polled goats have been bred.
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Dehorning can be performed on older animals and is normally performed with local
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Horned animals may become trapped in fences or vegetation, causing self-injury.
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Bureau of Animal
Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
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Horns may become broken, causing blood loss and potential for infection.
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Reasons invoked in support of dehorning animals include the following:
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498:"The dehorning of dairy calves: practices and opinions of 639 farmers"
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Horned animals may require specialized equipment, such as feeders and
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Horns provide a secure point for roping or holding the animal's head.
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before cauterization, 5 percent provided calves with postoperative
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Many breeds of cattle and sheep are naturally hornless. The
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can now determine if cattle carry genes for growing horns.
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are sometimes dehorned for economic and safety reasons.
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Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals
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268:, is being researched in the US to ensure food safety.
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583:. American Veterinary Medical Association. 2014-07-15.
558:. University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension. 2004
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was opposed by the government and rejected by voters.
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Horns may cause injuries to handlers or other animals.
151:Arguments against dehorning include the following:
496:Gottardo, Flaviana; et al. (November 2011).
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466:"Practical Techniques for Dairy Farmers"
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34:A dehorned dairy cow in New Zealand
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716:Are cows happier with their horns?
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692:"USDA NAHMS Dairy 2007".
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779:Cruelty to animals
702:2017-02-13 at the
553:"Dehorning Calves"
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508:(11): 5724–5734.
420:"Pain in animals"
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385:References
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191:White Park
92:anesthesia
72:castration
63:Disbudding
789:Livestock
430:3 October
303:Gigli saw
299:Gigli saw
215:Procedure
158:analgesia
107:Rationale
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700:Archived
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373:See also
364:In 2018
193:cattle).
187:Highland
96:sedation
329:halters
259:) by a
112:Removal
68:docking
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342:Polled
165:wolves
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51:Cattle
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453:: 11.
257:block
201:yokes
98:by a
59:goats
55:sheep
43:horns
674:ISBN
648:PMID
564:2013
530:PMID
480:2019
432:2012
406:2011
205:oxen
189:and
169:dogs
167:and
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