Question on dehorning........

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Bez, you do a great job explaining.
Cowgirl - I'm also in upstate NY and there should be lots of dairymen/women around that could help you. They all do it, one way or another.

 

[Bama]

Bez, I gotta work again in the next week or so. I may do a couple of new arrivals then. It will be interesting to see how well your method works in the heat and flies. I normally try to wait until cooler weather therefore some of them are on the big side. I can see where your method will make a differance.

 

[Bez!]

Bez, I gotta work again in the next week or so. I may do a couple of new arrivals then. It will be interesting to see how well your method works in the heat and flies. I normally try to wait until cooler weather therefore some of them are on the big side. I can see where your method will make a differance.

Read closely - I try to pick a cloudy cool time. I think I wrote that in my first post.

Bez!

 

[Diehard40]

Cowgirl,
Call your local county extension agent.
Someone should be able to come out and assist and teach you how to dehorn and help you with other needs.

 

[CowgirlUpNY]

Jeanne - unfortunately we are not in a very 'cattle friendly' part of NY - We couldn't even get a Vet here when our two Brown Swiss were dying!! I can call on the vet I worked for, but they are strictly horses, but they do try to help when they can.

Diehard - I never thought to call the county ext. office. Will give them a shout.

 

[Herefordcross]

Very informative post dun!

 

[msscamp]

Any suggestions would be a great help.

Sounds like a good time to "walk softly and carry a big stick"! I find a 1" dowel works good in these situations. Measure accurately, tuck that sucker under your arm just right and it's amazing how fast it can find it's way to your hand and across that calf's nose! ;-)

And while I'm here.....can I use a horse weight tape for cows, or do I need a 'cow' weight tape?

I don't know for sure, but I don't think so....I think a horse weight tape will give you inaccurate results with cows.

 

[Stocker Steve]

The closer to the head the better. If you cut the horn off too long, it is very difficult to get the bleeding to stop - even if you burn it. There are physical reasons for this that I will not go into, so just trust me on this.

Now for the sinus hole. All I do is puncture the membrane and leave it. The hole closes in about a month.

Any more questions give me a shout. Bez!

I have tried to "bop" some horns just above the hairline to avoid opening up the sinus in the summer. What is your experience with this approach for butcher animals?

Why puncture the sinus membrane?

 

[Bez?]

The closer to the head the better. If you cut the horn off too long, it is very difficult to get the bleeding to stop - even if you burn it. There are physical reasons for this that I will not go into, so just trust me on this.

Now for the sinus hole. All I do is puncture the membrane and leave it. The hole closes in about a month.

Any more questions give me a shout. Bez!

I have tried to "bop" some horns just above the hairline to avoid opening up the sinus in the summer. What is your experience with this approach for butcher animals?

Why puncture the sinus membrane?

Well, as far as I am concerned if you are butchering for yourself, or your own farm gate business there is no need to knock off the horns. I take them off for the feed lot folks - and I know and agree with their reasoning behind this.

If these animals are staying on your place you lose some weight gain when you knock the horns off - not a lot, but you do lose some.

As for the membrane I do it simply to allow drainage and air.

Whether I am right or not I cannot say - but the animal doc we use does it as well. I helped a neighbour run about 40 head through the chutes - he is an older gent and he had Ian (same animal doc) come out to do the work - I simply supplied muscle and really cheap - lunch and a coffee - labour.

Animal doc always punctured the membrane as well. Perhaps it has other reasons, but I was taught this way years ago and simply continue the tradition.

The entire top opening closes up in about a month. Some folks pack them I never do and I noticed Ian did not either.

Sorry I cannot be of more help - over to you,

Bez?