Calf Dehorning

[morragh]

Hello Alll
Due to Winter workload and weather I find myself with three older calves with good stumps of horns. They are too big for dehorner and too small for Vet to saw them off. A friend mentioned using wires for removing them but I have no experience of using them. The calves are maybe 4 months old and the vet said that with wires you have to cut fairly deep and it is a slow job. Any simple solution would be appreciated.
morragh

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The wire is not a slow job, you need speed to make a good job. They defitely won’t be too small for the vet to remove

 

[milkloss]

Probably a job for scoop cutters.

 

[milkloss]

 

[pine_guy]

At 4 months, a good sharp hoof knife can take the top off as they are still soft, then a burn round the edge with a hot iron. Scoop cutters are good, but easy to go a bit deep if you are not careful. Wires are good to, as Ne farmer says, speed is key, keeps the heat up and little need to cauterize after. I do find with wire you need someone to hold the end of the horn at the end so the wire keeps cutting and doesn't just rip the end and pulls a bit of flesh.

 

[liammogs]

At 4 months, a good sharp hoof knife can take the top off as they are still soft, then a burn round the edge with a hot iron. Scoop cutters are good, but easy to go a bit deep if you are not careful. Wires are good to, as Ne farmer says, speed is key, keeps the heat up and little need to cauterize after. I do find with wire you need someone to hold the end of the horn at the end so the wire keeps cutting and doesn't just rip the end and pulls a bit of flesh.

Little tip......Next time you use wires and get to the end, cross the wires trapping the bit left so your wires dont slip!!

 

[Henery]

I have a biggish set of cattle foot trimmers, they do a cracking job on small horns, not as good as a scoop but fine, need hot iron to stop any bleeding.

 

[milkloss]

I have a biggish set of cattle foot trimmers, they do a cracking job on small horns, not as good as a scoop but fine, need hot iron to stop any bleeding.

A good set of loppers do a fair job although we find plenty of heat required for the bleeding.

 

[Gulli]

A good set of loppers do a fair job although we find plenty of heat required for the bleeding.

Decent loppers do the job fine but I get on better with the scoop cutters. Always end up smacking my knuckles together using the loppers

 

[milkloss]

Decent loppers do the job fine but I get on better with the scoop cutters. Always end up smacking my knuckles together using the loppers

These are the daddies!