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Why De-budding?

3/4/2013

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As the kidding season quickly arrives, for some the kid critters are already here, de-budding is a  question that often is asked. 

Goats, as a breed, are naturally horned animals.    A goat can be 'polled', meaning born without the possibility of horn  growth, but that is usually not the case.

De-horning goats is not a topic that many like to discuss,   but it is a decision you need to make if you are going to have goats.

There are 'two camps' those believing  that a goat should be horned and those that choose to de-bud.  
 
Why would someone want to  keep a goat horned?  That is an future blog.  Due to our strong  belief in de-horning goats kept as livestock, we will have a view presented by  someone who has horned goats - we feel that we are too bias to fairly present the pros of keeping a goat horned.   We feel that both views should be covered to give you the information, so  you can make the best choices for you and your herd.
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De-budding or de-horning, is a practice of removing the   horns, or preventing the growth of horns, of an animal.   This practice is common with goats.  It is preferable to de-bud as early as   possible to provide the least amount of stress to the animal, and the greatest   possible success.  Having said  that, we will say that it is one job that we DO NOT like, but based on past  experiences we have chosen de-budding as the best option for us and our  herd.

Why would someone want to de-bud or dehorn a goat? 

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To prevent injuries:  Honestly, horns are hard - they are literally attached to the skull of the goat.  Goats have been known to accidentally hurt humans by playfully swinging their  heads about.  More aggressive goats can, and have, left bruises- broken limbs - and gored each other, as well as  humans. We have had goats legs caught in horns, young kids thrown with horns, and others almost gored.

To prevent accidents: Horns can become caught in brush,  fencing, and other obstructions and to avoid the sad loss of an animal. Because  a goats sinus cavity grows up into the horn, a goat can bleed to death when a  horn is broken.

To prevent conflict:  Goats, being herd animals, tend to have  a pecking order. Goats need to have others in their herd, this is a natural and  normal herd mentality.  But having  a mixed herd can cause more conflict than normal.   A herd with horned and dehorned animals can bring out more aggression from one goat over another, leading to injuries that wouldn't happen if everyone  was horned, or everyone was hornless.

Methods of de-horning/de-budding

We will be covering the  basic methods for young kid goats. 

Later when we de-bud, we will blog in detail about this first method and  the one we use.

Using a de-budding iron.......
Young goats can be de-budded as early as 7-10 days  old.  This is usually done as soon  as the horn bud are felt.  Looking  at a new born kids head, you will see a swirling pattern to the fur in two spots  on the head. This is where the horn buds will grow.   Before the horns actually break through the skin, you can feel little  bumps.   The kid needs to be  restrained.  Many use what is  called a 'de-budding box' others are able to restrain the kid without it. The dehorning iron is heated for the  manufacturers' recommended time.   Shaving or trimming the hair around the horn bud makes it easier to see  where to place the iron.  While  restraining the kid, place the iron over the horn bud, rocking it around, for  3-5 seconds.  No more than the  manufacturers' recommended time, ours say 5 seconds. This is the part we hate  the most - but with the iron, the temperature is 800-1000 degrees, it cauterizes  the horn bud.  Repeat this over the  other horn bud.  We then repeat the  procedure again over both buds, usually for 5 seconds.   Once done, you should have a nice orange ring.   Take the tip of the iron and place it on the actual horn bud, 1-2 seconds  is all that is usually needed, the horn bud should  pop off.  Your done.  Not pleasant, but safer than other  dehorning methods.  The kids can be  returned to their dams, or back to the herd.  One to two weeks there may be a scab,  this will eventually heal and fall off, or come off as they are playing.  At that time, when the scab falls off,  it can bleed. Watch this, you can  apply a cream to help keep the dirt out and prevent flies from being a  problem.

Using a dehorning paste............
The cattle industry has a  caustic paste for dehorning.  They  recommend using the paste from 1 day to 3 weeks of age for better results. Though this is used on cattle, it is  sometimes used in dehorning young kid goats, anywhere from 3 days to 7 days of  age.  You feel around for the horn  buds, once you find them, you shave the bud and around the bud for better  coverage.  You must wear protective  gloves - this paste is caustic - it will burn!  Using Vaseline, make a protective ring around the horn bud. This step is  important to protect the kid from other harm.  Use a small wooden stick, tongue  depressor, or other disposable applicator to apply the dehorning paste to the  horn bud.  Cover it  completely.  Leave  the paste on, a scab will form after a few days.   Within one to two weeks, the area will be completely hairless without sign of bud. There are some  cautions:  the kids need to be  separate from their dams and other kids to prevent burns when nursing or just  being kids and playing. The kids  can't be out in the rain for 2 or 3 days, the paste could run and burn  them, or worse - seep into their eyes  blinding them.  Because kids are  just that, kids, they play by butting heads, etc.   We don't use the paste for this reason.  It is very difficult separating each  kids for that length of time. 

De-Horning young goats.........
Young goats between the ages of 1 month to 4 months of  age, usually are too old to be dehorned with an iron.   You CAN, however, re-do a de-budding with the iron prior to age 4 months  if there is horn growth or scurs.   But if a kid was not de-budded and has horn growth, surgery is the only  option.  A vet is needed to sedate  the young goat, and the horns are surgically removed.   The skull must be scraped clean of the horn or re-growth is  guaranteed.  Because of the sinus  cavities growing up into the horn, after surgery the sinus cavities will be  open.  The sinus' will be packed  tightly to allow it to slowly heal from within.  This can take up to 8 weeks.  The openings will need to be kept clean  and packed periodically to assist   in healing.  The sinus  cavities will have to slowly close as they heal.  It is best to keep the goat separate from everyone else in the herd.   Infection can be a high risk at this point, flies during the summer can  also cause health issues.  This  procedure is very traumatic, a long term process, and quite  expensive. If this procedure is not done correctly, you can have a life time of  problems with weak horn growth that easily breaks or is knocked off on a regular  basis.  

De-Horning adult goats........
There really is no safe way to dehorn an adult goat.  There are some things that people do  but we do not recommend them, nor will we promote them here.  

Needless to say...............

 ..........if you buy a horned goat,  your goat will be horned.   We would not recommend having a mixed  herd. Either have all horned goats,  or all dehorned goats.  We have  experience with two of the methods, yet we will never have horns surgically  removed again.  To us, de-budding  very young kids (the first method) with a dehorning iron is the safest method, least stressful to our kids, and one we will continue to  use.

Remember, we are having someone blog very soon who believes in keeping goats horned........please come back for Eric's blog - it is  very worth your while to have both perspectives. Be informed.   Then decide.  What is best for you and your herd.

Blessings
Brenda Lee
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