should i or shouldnt i disbudd.

[FlightsofFancy]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! Do not disbud with out KNOWLEDGE!!!! I just purchased a buck from a breeder who did not know what she was doing and she really screwed up this buck. It had been determined that not only would the horns grow in a deformed manner causing Koda to be ineligible in the show ring but also that the caps present were an immediate threat to his health leaving him susceptible to infection. With this in mind, we hired an experienced producer to re-burn Koda's horn growth. This could have been avoided by doing it right the first time.
Disbudding is a personal choice and safe it done correctly. I started off with horned goats and now will only have disbudded goats. All my goats are sweet and will climb right in your lap, but they will accidently jab with their horns. NOT FUN!!!
There are plenty of goat producers willing to disbudd or teach you how to do it properly. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! Don't just "try it" on your own.

 

[helmstead]

Quote:

 

[BeardedChick]

Quote:

Was that aimed at me? Yes, I will have *very* experienced help. Please no yelling!

 

[FlightsofFancy]

Was that aimed at me? Yes, I will have *very* experienced help. Please no yelling!


Oh Gosh no yelling! I am sorry! I was more like "begging"! In the original post it stated that an iron could be purchased at TSC and I just don't want anyone to get the idea that you can watch a video on Youtube and then do it yourself. There is a little more to it.
Safe with knowledge....dangerous without!

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
While we are talking about irons, I strongly recommend getting a rhinehart iron, at least the X30. The ones I've seen at TSC are the little ones-they don't get hot enough.

For disbudding, the hotter the better. A colder iron=longer burn time=much greater risk of brain damage.

Just a little FYI.

 

[BeardedChick]

I ordered the Rhinehart X50 Dehorner from Hoeggers. Didn't seem like a purchase to skimp on.

ETA: Can they get a bit of banamine or something beforehand to lessen the pain?

 

[FlightsofFancy]

There are some producers that only disbudd with it and lots that do not have access to it. If your Vet with give it to you.....GO FOR IT!! (not yelling)

ksacres wrote:
For disbudding, the hotter the better. A colder iron=longer burn time=much greater risk of brain damage.

Yeah....what she said!

 

[BeardedChick]

If it was me getting dehorned, I'd want the banamine.

I'm all for controlling the pain as can be done reasonably.


ps. Were you a cheerleader?

I can sort of picture it. I say that in a good way.

 

[ksacres]

I have never used a pain killer. They recover (seriously) in minutes. They will be butting and playing like nothing happened.

The smell lingers much longer than the pain or the memory of what an evil person you are for doing it to them. Give a baby goat a bottle and they will forgive you anything.

And remember

the pain response is a reminder to the body that it has been injured and needs quiet time to heal.

 

[mekasmom]

I have always seen them done at 5 days. I don't do it. Years back, we did it to our first goats. Never again. It's mean, and you just don't get poked that often. I have dairy goats, and none of the ones born here are polled. I just don't do it. It's cruel in my opinion.

An added plus to horns is that you can grab a horn to catch a goat or to hold it. I use horns for handles quite often.