Band Dehorning

[texasjohn]

Good Job:thumbsup:
Proof is animal and people all are still on speaking terms and nobody got hurt in the process.
Excellent chute design.... novel, useful, sturdy, appropriate for this sized animal.
Great narrative and photos:thumbsup:

 

[jayste]

Good Job:thumbsup:
Proof is animal and people all are still on speaking terms and nobody got hurt in the process.
Excellent chute design.... novel, useful, sturdy, appropriate for this sized animal.
Great narrative and photos:thumbsup:

+1 what John said. Really like the pallet-squeeze chute idea! Billy looks like he faired ok.:thumbsup:

 

[themichelob]

Hey valley--Was hoping for an update on this thread by now. I've been curious as to if, or how well, this process worked. Can you give us the latest information? Regards, Mike

 

[valley]

Hi Guys, I didn't put the bands low enough. I'm going to redo and let you know.

Richard

 

[themichelob]

Thanks for the info, valley--looking forward to hearing how the redo goes. BTW, Tahoe and the Carson Valley were some of my favorite places when I lived and grew up in CA. Regards, Mike

 

[beenthere]

Hi Guys, I didn't put the bands low enough. I'm going to redo and let you know.

Richard

Meaning the horns didn't come off or are now short and stubby?

 

[valley]

Update:::::::
The bands were having no effect! While we had filed a grove in the horns, it looks like they were not deep enough. There was enough horn wall to resist the pressure of the bands. Yesterday we, myself, wifey, and the girls, filed much deeper into the horn, at some points there was bleeding, we tried to go down to the pink at least. We rebanded and will see. We want this to work, he is a great buck and we would like to keep him.
We also banded a doe that we recently got. She was easer her horns are not near the size of the buck's. For the doe, what I've read, it should take about 4 weeks. Again, I'll keep you posted.

Richard

 

[valley]

Greetings, Today the doe lost one horn. There was a good deal of bleeding. Wifie put the powder, blood stop, on. I'm guessing the doe will lose the other horn soon. No sigh of loss with the buck.

About 20 days.

Richard

 

[Redgoatea]

My mother took our two pygora kids in and had them dehorned. That's the last time we'll be doing that. We have two rescue goats that are horned and all the cattle are horned. On the goats I prefer the horns as they do make excellent handles and since they're fiber goats the "handles" come in handy when I'm shearing. The cows I have considered dehorning with bands but frankly after reading this it doesn't sound like something I'm up to doing. Glad to learn from everybody else's experiences though. 7

 

[beenthere]

My mother took our two pygora kids in and had them dehorned. That's the last time we'll be doing that. ..............

Why do you say that?


Valley
Any pics...? We like pics.

 

[valley]

Greetings, Most people who band dehorn report little or no bleeding. This did bleed enough that my wife put the powder on to stop it, but in no way compares to having them cut off by a vet! When our girls said she was bleeding I expected to see it running down her neck. This doe seems not to notice one horn is gone.
Heyali, this doe, was a rescue and was sold to us as the first to call was going to have her with refried beans. Living with us she will give milk, from which we will make Feta Cheese. Photo coming.
By the way the girls got their first egg today from the chickens they have had from day old.

Richard

 

[valley]

Here are some photos for your perusal. The tip of her ear was taken by a dog.
But she is in good hands now and she knows it.

make that 2 eggs!

 

[Redgoatea]

Why do you say that?

Valley
Any pics...? We like pics.

In our opinions it's a cruel and unnecessary procedure. We had it done because by definition all Pygoras are supposed to be dehorned. I say to heck with the breeders association. Plus there's the $300 price tag per goat. Nature made them with horns so they should have horns . IMO if you want hornless animals then go find a hornless breed.

Granted this is all being said by a person in a family that has not had a bad experience YET with a horned animal. 7

 

[beenthere]

Oh.
I don't see anything cruel about removing horns. No different than bobbing tails or castrating animals.
Or for humans going through surgeries, etc.
But don't see anything wrong with your thoughts on leaving horns on animals.

 

[valley]

The other horn hasn't sluffed yet. This girl likes to use her horns, she may have lost the first trying to slam one of the other goats.

He designed them with horns but HE gave me dominion over them.


Richard

 

[valley]

Greetings, The doe lost her other horn today. There was less bleeding this horn, but enough that the girls used blood stop. Glad this is done! She, the doe, would try to hook the other does, she cut the utter on one of the other does a while back.

There is still no sign with the buck. The lady that I got this information from said on a buck this size it would take about 6 months. I'm giving up on the buck, he does damage to the fence and barn, he has to go.

Well, it does work I would use this method again if needed on a doe or young buck.

Richard

 

[valley]

Here are pictures of the doe, she has shown no ill effects from the dehorning. Thanks for your intrest.

Richard

The girls milk her daily her milk is up. The buck kid behing her is her kid who we sold for a 4H project. They have asked how to dehorn him, he can't have horns for their little girl's project.

Richard

 

[beenthere]

She certainly looks to be in good shape, and a job well done.