𝗗ᵉʰᵒʳⁱⁿᵍ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗠ᵉᵗʰᵒᵈˢ 𝗢ᶠ 𝗗ᵉʰᵒʳⁱⁿᵍ

 🔳𝗗𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 .

▪️Dehorning is the process of removing the horns of livestock. Cattle, sheep, and goats are sometimes dehorned for economic and safety reasons. Disbudding is a different process with similar results; it cauterizes and thus destroys horn buds before they have grown into horns. 

Horned cows are not only dangerous to people working with them, but cause a great  deal of damage to hides. Dehorning also improves the animal looks. 

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 

Dehorning can be done by several methods.  

 1) 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻

: Electric, gas or fire-heated iron is the most common in calves (4 to 6 

weeks). When using this method, ensure that the killing of horn bud is effective  otherwise the horn will grow again. Hot iron dehorning can be done with ease up to  the age 3 months (while the dehorning iron still fits over the bud comfortably),  thereafter horn growth is fairly rapid, making surgical removal necessary.  

2)𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀

 Surgical method: use of saw or cutting wire: In older animals, surgical procedures 

must be used, especially if horns have grown to a length of 2 cm or more.  

The removal of larger horns causes a great deal of pain and anaesthetics should be  used with dehorning and steps taken to prevent bleeding. Blood attracts flies and  blow-fly strike causes serious problems in open wounds. Once horns have grown  very large, removal of the horns exposes the hollows in the skull and these must be  closed to prevent infection.

🔘𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀:

➪Are less likely to hurt or injure other livestock.

➪Are less likely to hurt or injure themselves.

➪Are easier to handle.

➪Cause less damage to farm infrastructure such as yards, gates and troughs.

➪Require less space during transport.

➪Require less space in feedlots.

➪Are easier to catch in a head bail and apply ear tags to.

 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 /Somali Animal Care✍︎✍︎