I have a heifer and a steer that have horns; didn't get to them when I could burn them off. What do you figure I'll get docked per pound when I sell as feeders? I'm trying to figure whether I should get vet to come and remove.
Horns
- Thread starter jnm303
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Part of that answer could depend on your market. Where are you?
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Maybe less than vet would cost to come to farm and remove them. Unless u have a vet that is lots cheaper than here.
thendrix
Well-known member
If dun is right (and I don't think that would be to far off) a nickel a pound would equal $1 per 20 lbs. or $5 per 100. If you sold at 1000 lbs. you have lost $50. Our vet wouldn't come out for less then $50. I would leave them.
TexasBred
Well-known member
How large are the horns? Good chance you could dehorn them yourself.jnm303":17xdmp4r said:
TexasBred
Well-known member
Yessireee....slick as can be.
TexasBred
Well-known member
True, I've used the big Keystone Dehorners on mature Brahman bulls. It's a tough pull but will cut them off perfectly.JSCATTLE":1pawevpu said:
http://www.enasco.com/product/C00175N
Lucky_P
Well-known member
Been breeding to polled bulls for over 25 years - but some were hetero polled, and some of my original cows were (de)horned, so the horn gene is sliding along, unexpressed, in some of my cows. Had a half-dozen or so horned heifers born in the last calf crop before we went to the current Angus bull. No longer have Barnes, Keystones, or even a dehorning iron on hand.
Took the horns off those heifers, at weaning, by placing two 'green cheerio' elastrator bands as far down at the base of each horn as possible - had to trim hair away at the base of the horn to get 'em well-seated - and I did pre-vaccinate with tetanus toxoid and boostered it at the time I put the bands on.
Heifers shook their heads and pawed at 'em for 10-15 minutes, but after that - nothing. Horns dropped off about 6 weeks later. No bleeding, no flies, no holes in their head to deal with.
Yeah, they have kind of a 'square-headed' look to 'em - not quite as 'purty' as the ones I used to dehorn with OB wire - but a whole lot less trouble, and I'd say, a lot less painful for the calves.
Took the horns off those heifers, at weaning, by placing two 'green cheerio' elastrator bands as far down at the base of each horn as possible - had to trim hair away at the base of the horn to get 'em well-seated - and I did pre-vaccinate with tetanus toxoid and boostered it at the time I put the bands on.
Heifers shook their heads and pawed at 'em for 10-15 minutes, but after that - nothing. Horns dropped off about 6 weeks later. No bleeding, no flies, no holes in their head to deal with.
Yeah, they have kind of a 'square-headed' look to 'em - not quite as 'purty' as the ones I used to dehorn with OB wire - but a whole lot less trouble, and I'd say, a lot less painful for the calves.
