De-Horning Goats

[helmstead]

We dehorn adults using castration bands, and while it's overall not a huge ordeal, it does cause discomfort. In our situation, it was necessary to reduce torn up fences and reduce the likelyhood of injury. You do need to have a vet to turn to for pain meds/antibiotics and support.

 

[Rock Farmer]

I would not mess with the horns. They are alive and are full of blood vessels. I think even if you "tipped" them you would need to have stepic powder to stop the bleeding. It would NOT be a simple process. All of my goats have had horns and we have not ever had a problem. I got poked one day when I had to get a young doe free that was caught in a hay rack. Nothing serious though. I had one old doe who would not allow a buck to service her. Believe me she was using her horns to her advantage. The buck was never injured, I am sure he was frustrated. He had a massive set of horns but never used them on the doe, while she would hook him and flip him off of her. I think there are ball like things you can glue to the ends of the horns, if you have a deranged goat. I would let the horns ride. You probably will have no problems with them. I know that it is not good to breed goats that naturally have horns with goats that naturally do not have horns. The vaccines are critical though.

 

[helmstead]

I know that it is not good to breed goats that naturally have horns with goats that naturally do not have horns.

This is not so. Breeding polled to horned is great. Breeding polled to polled increases chances of hermaphrodite offspring by an extra 50% (chance of producing a double copy polled animal which are usually sterile), so that isn't advisable but can still be done successfully. One in every 4 polled goats, according to online stats I've read, are hermaphrodites. My polled doe is not .

Hope I cleared that up. Going back under my rock now.

 

[FarmerChick]

In normal contact with horns you don't get hurt that much at all.

During feeding, bending over to pick up a hoof or something, I have taken horns to the thighs, tummy, and into my face etc. and never was the skin punctured or anything like that.

I got into a massive fight with my monster Boer buck. He had me pinned against the wall and was "having at me" and he was tough. His horns nailed me a few times with him twisting his head til I could get my hands on him and fight back....lol....then hubby came running and pulled him off me. No broken punctures on the skin but I was sore after that battle..LOL

So horns during normal use and contact with goats is not that dangerous seriously. I have been doing this for over 10-12 years with Boer goats and never a dangerous horn situation.

My 4 year old (almost 5 now) helps with my herd. I had her down there when younger but she had that unstable kid walk happening and I never wanted her to fall among the herds. But now she knows to keep an eye out on "where the horns" are and be careful around their heads.


But to keep horns or not to keep horns is the owners decision definitely.

 

[stano40]

Members here are excellent and are providing more information for me to formulate my opinions, including to delve deeper into learning more about goats and their horns.

First starting and even reading a few books on this subject they all highly recommended in getting those horns removed, ASAP.

I know the removal of defensive parts of any animal leaves them vulnerable to predator attack, not to mention sometimes a risk to their health.

It is a decision of the owner to decided horn removal either for the safety or in handling of the animal. But sometimes you need to see more from experienced people that books don't provide.

I can see both points of this topic and enjoy learning more about this from the members here.

Thanks so much in keeping these responses coming.

bob

 

[Rock Farmer]

Thanks helmstead for setting me straight. I should have looked up that info on polled vs horned breeding before I made that comment.

 

[MrsCountryChick]

There are Pros & Cons to any subject. Some owners like horns, & they work as a radiator cooling the goat in the summer months. They are protection for the animal, ....Unless those same horns have them caught in the fence, then they could be a Total demise of the animal due to a predator. I personally have a doe that I'm soon to band her horns due to them continually growing to her head. We're trimmed them, but want to have them removed now that the weather is cooler. Make sure you Give CDT vaccine 1st, you can give them yourself. The vaccine can be purchased at www.jefferslivestock.com along with the needles for administering. The prescribed dose will be stated by the manufacture, as there are many makers of the CDT vaccine. Good Luck on the hoof trimming! It's not that hard. If their hoofs are very overgrown (or you want to be cautious as a 1st time hoof trimmer) you can take a little off, then come back a few wks later. Bad hoofs sometimes take a few trimmings to get them back in shape. Jeffers also has Castrators & bands (even flat bands -like rubber bands- that won't allow the band to be rolled from where you apply it). Here's a link to info on Horn banding: http://www.nobull.net/bander/dehorningGoatsText.htm