Horn tipping sheep

[lynne]

Hello does anyone have any photos of before and after horn tipping sheep that if left could become ingrown. Or could show me where it's appropriate to tip on a sheep's horn ... thankyou

 

[ladycrofter]

Need photo. It is quite variable. If the horns are wide out you can cut off the last quarter without bleeding usually.

What are you using to do it?

 

[Moors Lad]

Just take off enough to solve your problem or potential problem - an 18 teeth per inch hacksaw blade used here - most important thing is having the patient secure during the process..... Cheese-wire is good and quick if you`ve the luxury of 2 people.

 

[cheviot53]

If just taking tips 25-75mm then i used garden loppers if thicker then hacksaw or cheese wire , start small and just keep taking a bit more until you can see a small dull red centre

 

[zero]

As above with a hacksaw, and it's worth buying a pack of new blades for the job. Father always reckoned a bit of vet lube helped it cut easier as well.

 

[lynne]

Hi all, it's for some educational guidance to producers. I am originally from mixed farm in Scotland and now working in Australia in the welfare space and I am seeing an increase in ingrown horns in sheep. Pure neglect! Trying to get some education together; lots of diagrams/photos for cattle but not so much sheep. I will attach some photos of a recent case I was notified of. FYI - this was in an abattoir so they are dead in photos. But I always think a photo tells a 1000 words.

The only literature I can find states.... "Be aware not to enter the sensitive corium as the first curl is approached" "Trim the horn half way around the first curl, midway between the ear and the eye, with the direction of cut perpendicular to the ground and parallel with the serrations on the horn". Horn tipping in adult sheep, usually involves the removal of no more than the last 4 to 5cm of the horn. This distance may slightly vary for different breeds of sheep as it will depend on their individual horn growth characteristics.

All are very open for interpretation and so I want to get as many images of horns and where to tip them? I have added some photos of examples where they could/trim going by my interpretation of the guidance. But please screen shot and amend if I am completely off the mark. No offence.!

 

[Bury the Trash]

i dont think you are far out.

when done it needs to stop rubbing the skin or eye of course as being the problem, but taking a bit less off to get experience of doing the job will be ok as you can always then take a bit more off , but you cant add some on if you take too much off ...

 

[ladycrofter]

Glad to see this getting some attention. Sheep like this should be dealt with as lambs and culled as soon as possible fat. Some people just don't give a fk.

 

[Moors Lad]

Some people just don't give a fk.

Especially the pedigree breeders that breed stuff that`s going to get stock with problems!

 

[MRT]

Got to ask, why have horns? Sons Radnor ram had strike yesterday under the horn, the ram lamb he chose to keep is polled...

 

[ladycrofter]

Not an option in some breeds, you never see a polled Blackie. Occasionally in Shetland tups - and 4 horns .

 

[cheviot53]

Sorry not true ladycrofter , in the early 1980's there were worries about head skinning rules so breeding polled SBF was underway as they were the most dominant breed , using polled hill dark faced breeds eg Gritstone & Beulah and back crossing then polled SBF were produced but not accepted by the breeders . There was a flock of polled SBF on a farm for a while but probably phased back to horned . Hill cheviots ( southies ) rams were mostly polled but over the years have gone horned and it is very hard to find polled rams now

 

[MRT]

Sorry not true ladycrofter , in the early 1980's there were worries about head skinning rules so breeding polled SBF was underway as they were the most dominant breed , using polled hill dark faced breeds eg Gritstone & Beulah and back crossing then polled SBF were produced but not accepted by the breeders . There was a flock of polled SBF on a farm for a while but probably phased back to horned . Hill cheviots ( southies ) rams were mostly polled but over the years have gone horned and it is very hard to find polled rams now

I suppose it is acceptable to breeders to cross if it is plausably deniable, but not with something so iconic/aesthetic

 

[cheviot53]

SBF have changed loads from the original long wooled greyer faced to several different types by using all the dark faced horned breeds in the mix and are still changing to tight coated with wide horns that can hardly get down a race and give problems at birth