Disbudding and Dehorning by
Ultra-Scan ©
Disbudding and dehorning in New Zealand
New Zealand authorities recommend
disbudding at the youngest age
possible, and chemical dehorning is
not deemed to be acceptable unless it
is performed within the first few days
after birth. The New Zealand Code of
Welfare for Painful Husbandry
Procedures mandates a 9 month age
limit for dehorning without attention to
pain relief. 1)
Horn anatomy and growth in cattle
Horns are special adaptations of
the skin. The corium is the site of
horn production. If the horn but not
the corium is removed, horns will
resume growing. Horns begin as
buds within the skin of the poll. At
approximately 2 months of age, the
horn buds become attached to the
periosteum of the frontal bone
overlying the frontal sinus. As the
horns grow, the cornual
diverticulum of the caudal portion of
the frontal sinus extends into the
most proximal portion of the horn.
2)
Disbudding
Disbudding involves destroying the
horn-producing cells (corium) of the
horn bud. Horn buds are removed
without opening the frontal sinus.
Chemical and hot-iron disbudding
methods destroy the hornproducing cells, whereas physical
methods of disbudding excise them.
3)
Horn bud removed
Dehorning
Dehorning is removal of the horns
after they have formed from the
horn bud. Physical methods of
dehorning (gouge dehorning)
include the use of embryotomy
wire, guillotine shears, or dehorning
knives, saws, spoons, cups, or
tubes. The Barnes-type scoop
dehorner is commonly used for
physical dehorning. Dehorning of
adult cattle is associated with
increased risks of sinusitis,
bleeding, prolonged wound healing,
and infection. 3)
A Barnes-type dehorner scoops
Technique - Ultra-Scan technicians use a hot iron, that is heated by LPG. This is suitable
method for dairy or beef calves aged 2-8 weeks. The head of the iron is designed to fit
over the horn bud and burn the horn cell base. The heat prevents bleeding. Care is
taken not to burn through the skull and damage underlying tissue.
Before coming on to your farm all our gear is cleaned and disinfected.
Cauterization minimizes potential medical harmful
possibilities such as infections, when antibiotics are not
available.
The cauterized burn site is a sterile
wound.
Use of topical antibiotic after disbudding
works well in reducing the risk of
infection. North Island Ultra-Scan
technicians apply this spray as
standard procedure. South Island
Ultra-Scan technicians will apply if
provided.
Local anesthesia
Ultra-Scan technicians are certified by
vets to use local anaesthesia. The
anaesthesia is supplied by your vet
and where they are happy to supply
our qualified technicians we will
bring it with us to your job. Where we
cannot source it but you would like
us to use it, you only need to
order it from your vet, have it on hand
and we will apply. Check with your
local Ultra-Scan technician.
Many sources now recommend that
local anesthesia be provided.
Anesthesia reduces avoidance
behaviors during the
disbudding/dehorning procedure.
Investigation of the benefits of local
anesthesia (in the form of a
preoperative cornual nerve block
with lidocaine or bupivicaine) has
produced conflict results. 4) 5)
Healing of disbudding wounds. Cautery of the skin around the horn buds, with no
major involvement of bone, results in relatively superficial wounds. The classic model of
wound healing is divided into three or four sequential, yet overlapping, phases:
hemostatis, inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling.
a
b
c
d
Days after:
a) 4
b) 14
c) 30
d) 30 - healthy tissue
under the scab,
that forms during
healing process
Post-disbudding considerations
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keep calves dry for at least 24 hours (disbudding should be performed on a dry but not
excessively hot day as rain and flies can introduce infection to the wound )
regularly check burn site during feed times
irritation will occur due to the discomfort experienced from the burn after the local
anesthetic wears off – because of this check pens and enclosures for sharp objects,
protruding wire, nails, tin edges etc.
if prolonged bleeding occurs, apply pressure for 5 minutes or phone your Ultra-Scan
technician so we can re-cauterize
allergic reactions can occur with local anesthetic, if any unexpected conditions or deaths
occur contact both, your vet and technician
Note: every calf is individual, some heal longer then the other
Infection may occur! Calves can contract an infection
from an environment – dirty, wet, not disinfected housing.
Treating for an infection
•
•
•
Infection of the frontal sinus appears as a pus
coming from the wound after 1-3 weeks
remove scab and clean wound
immediately with antiseptic solution
(i.e. Dettol; contains chloroxylenol)
then treat with topical antibiotic spray
if infection (including swollen, painfull
area around the wound) occurs in
large number of calves, animals
appear depressed with loss of
appetite, contact your veterinarian
for advice
Additional services provided by
Ultra-Scan technicians
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Extra teat removal
Tagging
DNA sampling
Rubber ring elastration of bull
calves.
References
2)
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/animal-welfare/req/codes/painfulhusbandry/painful-husbandry.pdf
http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/2261/dehorning-of-calv
3)
http://www.avma.org/reference/backgrounders/dehorning_cattle_bgnd.asp
4)
http://gpvec.unl.edu/files/griffin/AnimalWellbeingArticles_Info/AnimalWelfareD
ehorningCortisolStafford.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15977616
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/about-us/our-publications/technical-papers#tail
switch removal in dairy cows
Photos: author archive
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Happy calving to everyone!