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This comprehensive guide outlines essential management practices for dehorning, docking, and castration of cattle. It details the reasons for these procedures, including injury prevention, livestock value improvement, and better handling. Various methods of dehorning are highlighted—chemical, hot iron, and others—along with best practices to prevent excess bleeding. Additionally, it discusses the importance of docking for hygiene and breeding ease, as well as the benefits and methods of castration. Proper management techniques enhance animal welfare and farm operation efficiency.
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Management Practices Dehorning, Docking, and Castration
Dehorning • Reasons for dehorning: • less injury to each other • less injury to equipment • less space required • less chance of injury to handler • eliminates the boss cow • dehorned cows bring higher prices • they grow faster • for show purposes
Methods of Dehorning • Chemical-10 days old; uses caustic soda; should wear gloves; clip hair around horn and apply petroleum jelly; apply 1/16 inch of caustic soda; scurs are common. • Hot Iron-calves 1-3 mo. Old; hold firmly against head for 15 sec.; horn will fall off in 4-6 weeks.
Dehorning Methods • Spoon and Tube-1-3 mo.; tube is twisted back and forth, then turned to cut underneath horn. • Elastrator-instrument that stretches a special made rubber band and then deposits it on the hairline at the base of the horn; used on cattle with 3-6 inch horns; poor results
Dehorning Methods • Barnes-4-8 mo. Old; place over horns, apply firm pressure against the head; quickly spread apart. A 1/4 in. ring of hair should be removed with horn. • Dehorning Clippers-used on any age; used for tipping or regular dehorning; remove 1/2 inch hair
Dehorning Method • Saws (surgical or cosmetic)-most painful; need to use local anesthetic; done on show cattle; skin back hide, remove horn and part of skull, sew hide back, trim off excess hide; remove stitches in 10 days
Preventing Excess Bleeding • Pull arteries with forceps • Cauterize it (Burn it) • Use a commercial blood stopper and gauze • Apply furox once a day for 3-4 days
Docking • The removal of the tail • Reasons for docking: • keep manure and urine from sticking to tail • improves appearance • eliminates fly problems • makes breeding easier • ID sexes easier • Should be docked before 2 mo. old
Docking Methods • Knife-push skin toward body, twist tail 1/4 turn, cut off at appropriate joint. • Elastrator-takes 1-2 mo. for tail to fall off; after 10 days tail can be cut off with knife • Burdizzo-prevents blood loss; hit joint • Emasculator-prevents blood loss; hit joint • Hot Iron-looks like a chisel; heat until red, burn through joint; slower to heal
Castration • Reasons for castrating: • improves quality of meat • prevents unwanted pregnancies • allows us to have males and females in same pen • pens and equipment last longer • improves temperament
Castration • Reasons for NOT castrating: • bulls gain weight faster than steers • the meat is leaner • Functions of testicles: • produce sperm • produce testosterone (male sex hormone) • Stag-a steer that retains the appearance of a bull
Castration Methods • Should be castrated at 1-3 mo. Old • Knife-cut off bottom 1/3 of scrotum; pull down on 1 testicle, scrape cord 2-3 inches above testicle to cut; repeat with other testicle • Elastrator • Burdizzo • Emasculator