Livestock dehorning

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. Disbudding is commonly performed early in an animal's life, as are other procedures such as docking and castration. In some cases, it can be unnecessary. Many breeds of cattle and sheep are naturally hornless. The polled gene can occur naturally, and certain breeds lack horns. Although polling is common among cattle and sheep, some varieties of livestock species cannot easily be bred to lack horns naturally. In one case, the poll gene in goats was linked to hermaphrodism in a single study several decades ago, although fertile polled goats have been bred. Horns are removed because they can pose a risk to humans, other animals and to the bearers of the horns themselves (horns are sometimes caught in fences or prevent feeding). Dehorning is only recommended with local anesthesia and sedation by a veterinarian or a trained professional, although a 2011 study showed that only 10% of dairy farmers in Europe follow guidelines. Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season. In very large horns, "tipping" (removal of the tip of the horn) may be recommended to minimize bleeding. Dehorning is not routinely performed, since it is a difficult and painful process for the animal. Instead, most breeders disbud their animals while young, when the process is quick and easy. Dehorning is controversial because of the pain it causes.

Rationale

Removal Reasons invoked in support of dehorning animals include the following:

Horns may cause injuries to handlers or other animals. Horned animals take up more space, causing issues at the feed bunk and during transportation. Horned animals may require specialized equipment, such as feeders and angulate crushes. In some breeds and in some individuals, horns may grow towards the head, eventually causing injury. Horns may become broken, causing blood loss and potential for infection. Horned animals may become trapped in fences or vegetation, causing self-injury. Horned animals may become more aggressive than those without horns, especially around feed.

Remaining horned Arguments against dehorning include the following:

Dehorning (removing fully grown horns) without the use of anesthesia is extremely painful to the animal. A 2011 study that surveyed 639 farmers found that 52 percent of farmers reported that disbudding caused pain lasting more than six hours, that only 10 percent of the farmers used local anesthesia before cauterization, 5 percent provided calves with postoperative analgesia, and that farmers "indicated limited willingness to pay the cost of analgesia or to call a veterinarian to perform the procedure." Horned livestock are better able to defend themselves and their young from predators such as wolves and dogs. Horns provide a secure point for roping or holding the animal's head. Horns are traditional in some breeds, and breed standards may require their presence (for example, Texas Longhorn, Highland and White Park cattle). In some areas horns are of cultural significance, often being decorated or even trained into strange shapes. Some types of yokes used by draught oxen require the presence of horns. In very hot climates, horns are useful for thermoregulation and cooling due to the presence of blood vessels at the tip of the horn

Procedure

Dehorning can be performed on older animals and is normally performed with local anesthesia (cornual nerve block) by a veterinarian or a trained professional. Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season. Sedation may be recommended, especially for larger animals that require increased restraint. Use of longer-term pain medicine, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is being researched in the US to ensure food safety. For mature cattle that were not dehorned when they were young, another common practice is to cut off only the pointed end of the horn. This practice is called horn tipping; it is less stressful on the animal because there is no blood loss and the horn is cut off where there are no longer any nerve endings. This practice does not eliminate the bruising damage done by the horns when cows fight, but it does eliminate the risk of puncture wounds and eye loss from pointed horns.

Disbudding minimizes discomfort and risk, and is performed when horns are small "buds" by one of several methods:

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