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Post by marion on Dec 3, 2012 10:47:44 GMT -5
I wonder how many cows have ever been dehorned 3 times? That's luck for you. I would never dehorn one voluntarily and I end up with the one that has to be done 3 times. Those stubs usually have little to no blood supply. You would know if you've already taken it down. Why not leave it alone? It only needs a bit taken off if it gets close to her head. |
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Post by windmill on Dec 3, 2012 11:10:19 GMT -5
I de horn all mine when they are little. I de horned all the big ones after a few years of having them. Got tried of the females acting like they were at a bull fighting contest when I loaded them on the trailer. Now everyone gets along. Plus added bonus. It knocked the flies off of them by over 65%. Yes the ball and holler but a week later it is like it never happened. Kind of like me going to the dentist. I ball and holler and a week later............ I am still pissed lolol
The only one that ever held a grudge was my big bull Mudflipper. He would not come around me. 3 weeks later I took him over to a guy that had 80 acres to graze for free. Went by there in my blue farm truck to help a guy across the road from there. I was about 300 yards from the road and it dawned on me that I could here familiar bellar. Yup there he was at the fence bellaring for me. lolol He missed me. He really missed the cubes I gave him. Had to drive all the way to town just give him some cubes. Spoiled baby.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Dec 3, 2012 12:38:59 GMT -5
With our Highland bulls, we work on "training" the horns to go a certain direction. We prefer them forward and down, and then curve around in front of the head. Two methods are used, weights and scraping. The scraping is a bit of an art, and it is actually the opposite of what you would expect to do to the horns to get them to go a certain direction. Scrape on the opposite side of the horn, for the new growth will encourage the horn to curve around. Weights are usually used to drop the tip height. This is our Highland bull (not the miniature ones). Unfortunately his tip got damaged on one side, but it's healed up just like Brenn's.  |
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Post by Julie on Dec 3, 2012 19:13:15 GMT -5
I wondered what the rules were at Dexter shows about horns? Can you show ones with horns?
I fully planned to de-horn Breanna and Feth when I bought them, but their horns were already so big after I did some reading I thought it would be too traumatic. My vet wasn't very excited about the project either, although I know she would have done a good job and given the girls proper pain meds. I think the horns look awesome, just have to watch out for accidental bumps from them. It has been funny watching the reactions of farm visitors when all the cows come up for treats. They definitely get concerned about the horns!
I am glad to know that mixed herds work out okay - the horned ones don't bully the others too much. My young polled heifers are learning to move faster when (horned) Seara comes toward them! I have been anxious for them to work things out before anyone gets hurt.
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