Animal Health & Welfare

In most countries, naturally hornless cattle (polled) are preferred to horned breeds due to the reduced risk of injury to humans and other cattle. However, many popular breeds are horned meaning that calves need to be dehorned at an early age.

It is an offence under The Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954 as amended, to disbud calves or dehorn cattle without the use of an anaesthetic other than when using chemical cauterisation.  Adequate time should be allowed for the anaesthetic to act before beginning.  A summary of the legislation can be found in the welfare codes to the right.

Disbudding

Defra and the Scottish Government clearly advocate disbudding (removal of the horn buds before horn material has emerged) before 2 months of age rather than dehorning at a later age as disbudding may be less stressful to the animal.  Chemical cauterisation, however, may only be used within the first week of life and its use is strongly discouraged by these bodies.  They recommend that disbudding should only be carried out with a heated iron.   

Dehorning

Regardless of when dehorning takes place, only experienced personnel, and preferably a vet, should perform this procedure.  The Codes of Recommendations adopted in the UK point out that dehorning should not become routine.  They advocate the following precautions:

• Dehorning should be performed during the spring or autumn to avoid flies and frosts
• Pain relief should be provided following the procedure
• Hay racks should be sited at a level to prevent contaminants from falling into the open wounds

Additionally, when a surgical procedure is adopted, aseptic methods using well-maintained tools or instruments are necessary. Following removal of the horn, the wound should be treated to prevent excessive bleeding or infection.

Methods

Disbudding or dehorning can be accomplished using several methods or their combination, depending on the age of the animal and the size of its horns.

In addition, larger, well-developed horns of older animals that do not require complete removal can be tipped using a tool to remove the end of the horn to the desired length.

The tabs to the left give information on each of the methods available

Polled breeds

The use of a naturally polled bull can eliminate the welfare and labour costs and risks of infection associated with dehorning/disbudding.   Information on the incorporation of polled genes into a horned herd is given in the tab above.