How well does banding horns really work?

[Generally01]

My cousin bought a really good (humane) bander that is supposed to work on horns we got him to try it on one of our heifers that we tried dehorning but kinda failed (one grew back) so i was wondering if any of you guys had any experience with this method. it seems really humane vs other ways to do it. we only did it yesterday so I'm also wondering how soon you can see results.

 

[Highland Mule]

Just do it at birth and use paste.

 

[Agrivator]

My cousin bought a really good (humane) bander that is supposed to work on horns we got him to try it on one of our heifers that we tried dehorning but kinda failed (one grew back) so i was wondering if any of you guys had any experience with this method. it seems really humane vs other ways to do it. we only did it yesterday so I'm also wondering how soon you can see results.

It has been tried in the past, but I'm not sure it is legal in the UK.

 

[Generally01]

It has been tried in the past, but I'm not sure it is legal in the UK.

Is there somthing I'm missing? is there problems it can cause?

 

[Andrew]

Just do it at birth and use paste.

Will second this. £15 for a tub of Hornex paste, does 100 animals. 120 calves here last year and only one has a small stump grown. Really humane, quick and cheap.
No use if you buy in with horns already on though.

 

[milkloss]

Will second this. £15 for a tub of Hornex paste, does 100 animals. 120 calves here last year and only one has a small stump grown. Really humane, quick and cheap.
No use if you buy in with horns already on though.

bit of hassle with duck tape etc though isn’t it? We turn straight out after dehorning etc and don’t really want them back in regular.

 

[Andrew]

bit of hassle with duck tape etc though isn’t it? We turn straight out after dehorning etc and don’t really want them back in regular.

Never used duck tape? Is that with the bander method?

 

[milkloss]

Never used duck tape? Is that with the bander method?

With paste. I've read on here that there is concern about the cow licking the paste or it rubbing onto the cow. Just seemed a bit tricky to me.

 

[Andrew]

With paste. I've read on here that there is concern about the cow licking the paste or it rubbing onto the cow. Just seemed a bit tricky to me.

Never used tape. Clip hair from round buds. Small bit of vaseline around the bud. Paste on the bud. Put all the tags in. Done in 5 mins.

 

[NZDan]

I surprised with your welfare rules over there that you're still able to dehorn your own calves. We're vet only now and local must be used in all cases.
Mind Holstein/Friesians are really the only breed without a large % of polled bulls available and that is changing rapidly.

 

[Andrew]

I surprised with your welfare rules over there that you're still able to dehorn your own calves. We're vet only now and local must be used in all cases.
Mind Holstein/Friesians are really the only breed without a large % of polled bulls available and that is changing rapidly.

The paste doesn’t hurt them at all, just a little irritation. They’re done before they’re a week old. Debudding would be a better term than Dehorning.

 

[NZDan]

The paste doesn’t hurt them at all, just a little irritation. They’re done before they’re a week old. Debudding would be a better term than Dehorning.

Agreed. But those that make animal welfare regulations often have very little knowledge of animal welfare. Numnuts is a classic case, the first genuine option for pain free docking and castrating lambs and the UK authorities won't license it. It was even a battle to get ot over the line here as well.

 

[Generally01]

Just do it at birth and use paste.

Egzactly what is this paste and where do i get it, i don't think i ever heard that term being used before. #cruelamericans?

 

[Highland Mule]

Egzactly what is this paste and where do i get it, i don't think i ever heard that term being used before. #cruelamericans?

Just google “dehorning paste”. I use Dr Lawson’s, but others are available.

Generally apply on day of birth, after first feed and at same time as tagging. Calves do not them need to be handled again until weaning (although we do, frequently, to keep them calm).

 

[Andrew]

Egzactly what is this paste and where do i get it, i don't think i ever heard that term being used before. #cruelamericans?

Farmsense Hornex Calf Dehorning Paste/spatula

The active ingredient is sodium hydroxide. One tub will treat approximately 113 doses however more paste can be applied if needed. Legal Category: POM-VPS.

www.prowormers.co.uk

 

[Generally01]

I surprised with your welfare rules over there that you're still able to dehorn your own calves. We're vet only now and local must be used in all cases.
Mind Holstein/Friesians are really the only breed without a large % of polled bulls available and that is changing rapidly.

But Isn't banding the better way to take care of horns if you buy stock with em or forget to remove em at birth?

 

[NZDan]

But Isn't banding the better way to take care of horns if you buy stock with em or forget to remove em at birth?

Study reveals that banding should not be considered as an alternative dehorning method

By Chelsey Johnson Dehorning is a common practice for many feedlot operations. Producers have considered the practice an important part of production systems because of improved performance of cattle and improved safety of other cattle and animal handlers. Furthermore, some horned cattle...

www.asas.org

 

[Henarar]

I surprised with your welfare rules over there that you're still able to dehorn your own calves. We're vet only now and local must be used in all cases.
Mind Holstein/Friesians are really the only breed without a large % of polled bulls available and that is changing rapidly.

Perhaps its because of our welfare rules that we can dehorn our own calves. Perhaps those that make the rules know what is good for welfare.
Do you think a vet is necessarily better at dehorning cos I don't

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I surprised with your welfare rules over there that you're still able to dehorn your own calves. We're vet only now and local must be used in all cases.
Mind Holstein/Friesians are really the only breed without a large % of polled bulls available and that is changing rapidly.

It's not vet-only, you can do your own if you use local.
(I could do mine, but I can't do "yours", is what I picked up from the meeting at the vets, same with tipping longer horns on adult cattle for transport)

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Perhaps its because of our welfare rules that we can dehorn our own calves. Perhaps those that make the rules know what is good for welfare.
Do you think a vet is necessarily better at dehorning cos I don't

I think the presence of a vet on a farm that doesn't regularly have vets, raises the stress of the livestock, nothing against vets!
But in general, stock know the people on their farm and know we're to be trusted.