Elastrator Band Dehorning GRAPHIC New pics pg 10

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Thanks for posting these. I've debated on and off for quite awhile now. I finally have my answer. I will not be getting any goats.

That's not a criticism. It's just me finally understanding what all is involved and realizing it's not for me.

Thank you.

Rusty

 

[key west chick]

Rusty, don't cross goats off yet. Oreo all ready had horns. Alot of people disbud kids when they are just a few days old. The horn bud is burned and if done correctly, the horn never grows.

 

[SheriM]

Quote:
I agree. Rusty, there are lots of different options about horns. Some people just leave them on (make great handles

), others disbud the way Key West described, still others have a vet remove the horn buds under anaesthetic. Goats are great critters to have, so don't let this stop you. There's nothing wrong with using the band method if you know what you're doing, (remember, the OP said she waited till she could find experienced help) but it's certainly not a requirement for owning goats.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I have a small breeding farm (quarter horses) so horned goats are not an option. I just never realized how difficult disbudding could be on them. We castrate colts all the time, so I'm not the squeamish type, but I admit this has given me pause.

I'm crazy about Nubians and learning to milk. But that means kids and kids mean disbudding. I appreciate seeing what's involved. I'll just take my time deciding and do some more reading, as nobody near me has goats, so there is no one to learn from.

Thanks!

Rusty

 

[redhen]

ooh Rusty, please dont give up on having goats! if you get them dis-budded as babies you wont have these problems...*if the dis-budding is done correctly* Goats are wonderful pets! they have so much personality! once you have a baby goat and raise it you will see what i mean...

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Rusty, this wasnt dis-budding, this was de-horning...its totally differant...also, i wonder if Nubians come in polled? i have a week old Nigerian baby and she was born hornless..its called polled..(and i believe its a dominant gene??)...then you wouldnt have to worry about dis-budding or anything...

 

[helmstead]

Rusty - it's very important you understand that what has been done here is DEHORNING...this is what you have to do when horns are left on and are later unwanted for whatever reason. The farm Oreo came from doesn't DISBUD...and he was bad with his horn...so we had to DEHORN him.

Disbudding is no biggie at all - WAY easier than castrating a colt! Dehorning usually isn't this nasty, either.

I have posted these photos to fight the misinformation all over the internet about elastrator dehorning. Most websites that talk about it at all make it sound like a walk in the park. It obviously isn't! It WORKS, and it is much easier on the goat than surgical dehorning (trust me)...but it's messy and not without the occasional complication.

Of course, when you buy your goats - buy disbudded ones and you'll never see anything like this in person.

 

[SheriM]

Quote:
Rusty, this wasnt dis-budding, this was de-horning...its totally differant...also, i wonder if Nubians come in polled? i have a week old Nigerian baby and she was born hornless..its called polled..(and i believe its a dominant gene??)...then you wouldnt have to worry about dis-budding or anything...

As far as I know, any breed of goat can carry the polled gene, but you don't ever want to breed two polled animals together. Because it is a dominant gene, in 25% of the cases you'll get a "double dominant" and they can be hermaphradites: born with both male and female private parts.

 

[Blooming chicks]

I'm getting my buckling disbudded and neutered this morning (waiting on the vet now) and she is only charging $25 for the disbudding, $10 for the surgical neuter--this includes sedation. I think that is a great price and worth paying now versus waiting to see how he will act later with horns.

 

[helmstead]

Quote:
Please don't let her use general sedation - ask for local.