dehorn calf/ training

[claudine719]

Hello my daughter is raising a Charolais heifer for ffa, the heifer is 9 months.
We purchase her in June and she still have her horns. Do anyone knows a place in Houston TX to have her dehorn? It would be better if the person can come out to the school barn and do it. We're still training her and I don't think she would go in a trailer for us to travel. Also if anyone knows about training a heifer and can teach us a thing or two that would help out a whole lot. We have no experience in training this animal. And the teachers are new this year and they have no knowledge of cows. Thank you.

 

[slick4591]

Firstly, :welcome:

Secondly, you have Ag teachers that don't know about cows!? Call your local large animal vet for the dehorning. AS far as getting her halter broke and trailer broke there's more experienced folk around here to help you there. You might also use the search function as I know it's been talked about many times here.

 

[chippie]

Will send you a PM with the name of a vet who does cosmetic dehorning. Do you have a trailer to haul her?

 

[claudine719]

The school have a trailer I can use but we can't get her out of the pen to walk her. I know it will be a hassle trying to get her in the trailer. We really need help training this animal, the AG teachers are new and hardly knows anything and we have no knowledge but my Daughter raise money to buy this cow, she is hoping to breed her later on and take the baby off to Texas A&M for college.

 

[greybeard]

Wow, Ag teachers have changed a lot since I was in school. (back when Moby Dick was a minnow and Capt Ahab was a seaman apprentice.)

claudine719--contact some of the other parents in your daughter's ag class. At 9 months, depending how much horn the heifer has, you're going to need someone PRESENT that has done this before--it can/will be bloody and it's not something ya want to attempt without some experienced folks around. Most ag classes that I've ever seen including recently always have 1 or 2 youngsters who either live on a working farm/ranch and their parents are usually really good about helping the 'not-quite-as-experienced people learn. I've NEVER met a cow person who wasn't happy to pass on their knowledge and experience to the younger generation--Never.

Yes, it may be a hassle trying to get her out of the pen, and into the trailer but you just as well enlist some of the other kids and adults to help with halter breaking and loading--the longer you wait the harder it's going to be.

Here's a little info on dehorning:
http://www.cattletoday.com/archive/2003 ... CT285.shtm

There are several dehorning videos available on line, but again, I really can't advise anyone to try it first time based only on what you see in a video--and it isn't for the faint of heart, not to mention the infection possibilities. There's more to it than just whacking them off with a saw..

Maybe there is someone on here from the greater Houston area that can come out and help that ag teacher out in doing their job.

 

[Bigfoot]

Sorry, but I don't believe the Ag teacher is not capable. Some other explanation maybe, but not Incapable.

 

[claudine719]

The AG teachers knows as much as I do.

 

[chippie]

What are your daughter's plans for the heifer? Is she going to show her? What school district are you in?

 

[claudine719]

She is plan on showing her. Spring isd

 

[chippie]

Texas A&M has some publications on their website for youth.

One is:

http://animalscience.tamu.edu/files/2012/04/beef-managing-beef-cattle.pdf

There are more publications here: http://animalscience.tamu.edu/youth-projects/#Youth

This page has links to videos about fitting:

http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=67896&p=796124&hilit=halter+youtube#p796124

You can find more at youtube. Here are several. (Disclaimer - i did not watch all of them).

[youtube]b1daEJVY43o[/youtube]

[youtube]OOJCrzqLgB8[/youtube]

[youtube]TRB7MNYAuIs[/youtube]

[youtube]Fa6jSwbMh1w[/youtube]



Hope these help.