should i or shouldnt i disbudd.

[helmstead]

Quote:

Nope, you got lied to. Polled means hornless, period. I have a polled doe, Two Spot...and she has had two polled kids for me. Their heads are smooth except they still have skull ridges where the horns would have graduated into the skull.

Here she is...with pics of her kids:
http://www.helmsteadstables.com/Two Spot.htm

Some unknowledgeable sellers will try to tell you a disbudded goat is polled (some will also just flat lie). You can always tell if a goat has been disbudded. They'll have a rough patch that has sparse hair compared to the rest of the head where the horns should have been.

 

[Chatychick]

Yep I agree with Kate there as Ihave some polled goats and when she kids I have to check and see if they are going to be horned or polled...not good to disbud a polled goat...her last kidding both were polled and the daddy had been disbudded . It all depends on which way they go and ....no polled goats have nubs where the orns should be and they dont grow. Sounds like a bad disbudding and she has a scur if its 1 in long on 1 side.

 

[abluechipstock]

i disbud, i hate it but i want a hornless herd, horns get caught on things, they can be dangerous, even accidentally, they also can be destructive with them, i usually get my babies done at a few days old before the horn has time to attach to the skull, a friend of mine does it, 2 5 second burns on each horn bud, i feel horrible but it's something i do, i actually want a polled buck so i can decrease the amount of kids needing it done, i respect others opinions not to do it though, here's a pic of a scur that my buck has

 

[ksacres]

 

[abluechipstock]

here's a pic of a scur my buck has

and a pic of the head of a polled doe, notice the bumps\\

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
Let's just say that Kate USED to feel the way Blondie does, and that she and I may have "locked horns" on the issue a time or two...

Horns are just asking for trouble. Truly. Disbuding is simple, quick, effective and the kids are fully recovered and bouncing around agian within minutes. Granted, they do smell like a burning tire factory for a few days...

Cons of horns:
can be dangerous
can't show dairy
can get stuck in things
don't fit on standard fitting/milking stands
can be destructive

Pros of horns:
can be pretty
don't require pro-active management
(Some would say they make nice handles BUT you should NEVER NEVER NEVER lead a horned goat by the horns. You teach them they have horns, they teach you they know how to use them...)

 

[helmstead]

allbluechipstock - two questions:

1) why don't you remove the buck's spur? wouldn't be difficult at all...

2) did someone try to disbud that polled doe? I've not seen one with bumps like that, mine all have had nice hair coverage over their ridges...Or is it because you clipped her? Just curious...

Ksacres LOL LOL I'm still sitting back and smiling...

 

[cutiepieacres]

I disbud all my pygmies not only for their safety and mine but also for their well-being as I want my babies to go to good homes with kids and be shown. Most parents with small kids wont even look at a goat with horns. I do not disbud within the first week or even the second pygmies are so small and their horns dont come in all that fast so all my babies are done between 4 and 6 weeks. I also do the scur line on all boys to avoid scurs and so far I really havent had any even on bucks. Its so quick and afterwards they are up and playing, butting heads within a few mins. I did learn from a very experienced breeder and watched her disbud dozens of times before I ever tried it myself, now that I have learned though it seems very easy and I have disbuded lots of goats for myself and plenty of other breeders that cant do it themselves.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:

I love this. Disbudding is one of my "pet" issues.

As for the bumps, my polled doe has the same thing, definite bumps just like that, and they don't grow much hair on the very tops. If I had a functioning camera, I'd get a pic for you. Are you positive that yours are polled?

Maybe they are like the magical tummy tumors!

 

[BeardedChick]

I have disbudded goats and a milk cow that has horns. Daily close handling of an animal with horns is *scary*. I'm always afraid she will accidentally get me with the horns. You can never let down your guard when you lean in close to brush her or put on the halter. One snooty wag of her head and I'd probably be unconscious on the ground. When you are hanging a bucket of feed for her or tying her up, you have to watch that the horns don't accidentally mash your hands. And then when they are running around feeling frisky - I'm always super wary about those horns even though she's a really sweet cow with a great temperament. I can just picture her picking me up by the seat of my trousers and taking me for a joy ride... (Granted, she does a great 'running of the bulls' impersonation)

Because of this, I ordered a good disbudder and will disbud my kid goats after they are born, and I will disbud my heifer calves.