Cattle Dehorning Knife (A82890)

Tips For Use

• If dehorning is to be carried out it should be done as young as possible to reduce stress and minimise animal welfare concerns.
• There will be enormous long term benefits from having the Australian beef cattle herd horn-free and avoiding the high cost of bruising and hide damage.
• Although dehorning of cattle may seem offensive to some people, it must be appreciated that the temporary discomfort caused by the operation is completely outweighed by the long-term benefits of having the whole herd free from damage caused by horns.

When to Dehorn:

• Calves should be dehorned as early as possible. A tight calving pattern allows all calves to be de horned at a similar age, effectively and humanely. If the calving pattern is spread out, select groups of calves of similar ages for dehorning.
• It is best to dehorn calves at less than three months of age. They suffer less stress because they are more easily handled, and the preferred methods cause little or no bleeding, heal quickly, and do not result in any significant setbacks.
• Cattle should be dehorned on dry cool days to allow the wound to dry quickly with the minimum risk of infection. The best time is late afternoon, when fly activity is usually low. Never dehorn cattle in wet weather, because the healing rate is decreased and the risk of infection increased.

Restraint Facilities:

• A well designed calf cradle will restrain the calf and ensure that dehorning can be done effectively while minimising stress and effort for both the operator and the calf. When a calf is restrained in a cradle, all marking and vaccination procedures can be done easily.
• Dehorning should be done last at marking time after calves are vaccinated and castrated.

Hygiene and Care of Equipment:

• Before dehorning, sharpen the blades of all dehorning instruments on an oilstone or steel, then disinfect them in a bucket of antiseptic solution. Disinfect dehorners also between calves.
• This will allow dehorning to be completed smoothly and cleanly, reducing stress on both the operator and the animal. Blades will need to be re-sharpened if they become dull.

Treatment After Dehorning:

• After the operation, animals may bleed freely for a short time.
• The application of a proprietary wound dressing paste, balm or powder is often sufficient treatment.  A product that contains a fly repellent is recommended if dehorning in the warmer months when flies are a problem.
• Refer to NSW DPI Cattle Dehorning Guide for further information