I have ND and breed for milking. I have all disbudded adults and I have disbudded all kids. Here are my reasons:
- I milk on a stand and pet/cuddle my does. That would put their horns at face level. I've gotten smacked in the face by a hard goat head when they suddenly turn. It hurts but doesn't leave damage like a pointy horn would. I like my eye balls and would like to keep them.
- I often have kids visit and that presents the same horns-would-be-at-face-level dilemma.
- I have a pony and mini horse in the same area as the does. Their heads are right at the level of the horse's bellies. Contrary to popular believe, a horse's skin isn't much thicker than a human's. It would be very easy for the horses to be cut open.
- I live near a mid-size city that allows backyard goats but the law prohibits horns. If I didn't disbud I couldn't sell to anyone in the city and none of them could buy from me.
- Same would apply to any 4-H kids that might want to buy a goat from me for showing.
- I read the horror stories of goats that got their horns stuck and died. Didn't want to chance it.
While disbudding can be hard for some to watch, I really don't think it's as bad as most think. The iron is so hot the nerves are cauterized almost immediately. Yes, the kids will scream, but they'll also scream when they're put in the kid box. They're upset and they scream. Goat kids do that. As soon as they're out of the box they stop screaming and cuddle into your arms with no signs of distress.