Animal Husbandry Practices: Dehorning, Castration, and Health

Dehorning & disbudding

Method of choice should matched the size of the horn and the age of the animal

Disbudding

Destruction or excision of horn producing cells before skull attachment

Disbudding age of goats

7-10 days

Disbudding age of cattle

Birth to 2 months

Dehorning

Excision of horn after the horn has erupted through the skin and protrudes

Caustic paste

Placed on the horn bud during disbudding

Electric dehorning irons

"Placed over the horn bud and burn the bud and surrounding tissue to "kill" the horn"

1 inch wide all around

Perimeter around the base of the horn that must be clipped for dehorning

1/2 inch

Amount of skin cut from the base of the horn

Tetanus antitoxin, Antibiotics

Injections given during dehorning

2 weeks

Time when caustic paste becomes less effective and is discouraged to use for large ruminants

Saw dehorning

Method of dehorning for goats

Dehorning knife

Method that is used on calves that are 2-3 months with a mobile horn

1cm around the horn

Amount of skin removed with a dehorning knife around the horn bud

2-3 month old calf with mobile horns

Appropriate time to use dehorning knives

Minimal tissue damage, Avoidance of exposing the sinus cavity

Advantage of dehorning knives

Dehorning iron

Method that is used to sear off the horn bud's blood supply

2 month old cattle

Appropriate time to use dehorning iron

Placed over the horn bud, 1cm from the horn bud edge, Twisted a few times

Method of using the dehorning iron

2-6 months to weaning cattle

Appropriate time to use dehorning cup

Downward pressure on the tool, Apply with scissor-like movement

Method on how to use dehorning cup

Pressing vertically down the horn, Pushing the handles outwards, scooping out the horn

Method on how to use scoop dehorners

Weaners and older cattle

Appropriate time to use scoop dehorners

Saw dehorning

Removal of the horn based using a horn saw

Horn tipping

Removal of sharp points of the horns

Horn tipping

Treatment for irritation caused when a curled horn grows back into the head

Castration

Removal of the testes, epididymides and a portion of each sperm duct

Testes, Epididymides, Portion of each sperm duct

Body parts removed during castration

Wether

Castrated male goat or sheep

Steer

Castrated male cattle

Youngest age

Best time to castrate

Buck is set on its lower back or rump, Hind limps pointing forward, Kid's back vertical and held against the body of the holder

Method on restraining young kids

Stanchion, Cast to the ground

Method of restraining 3-4 months old

Calf is placed in a chute and the tail is held over its back, Laying calf of a table, Stretching the calf out on the ground

Method of restraining calves

Castration with Burdizzo

Bloodless method of castration

Castration with Burdizzo

Method of castration with burdizzo

Young animals

Age when the burdizzo should be used

Feel for the two rope-like testicular cords inside, With the burdizzo on the right, use your left hand to push the cord in between the burdizzo and squeeze, Ensure that 2/3rds of the scrotum is below the crush site and the jaws are closed, Crush for 10 seconds, Repeat on the other side

Steps on how to use the burdizzo

Castration with Elastrator

Castration with rubber rings

Castration with Elastrator

Method of castration with elastrator

10-14 days

Number of days it takes for scrotum and testes to slough off using elastrator

Birth - 3 weeks

Appropriate time to castrate cattle with elastrator

Birth - 8 weeks

Appropriate time to castrate goats with elastrator

Douse the upper portion of the scrotum with antiseptic, Place the rubber ring on the prongs, and orient it towards the body, Expand the rings by squeezing the handles, Position it just above the testes, Manipulate the scrotum until both testes are descended, Press the trigger lever, Administer tetanus antitoxin injection

Steps in castrating with rubber rings

Hoof wall

Tends to overgrow on ruminants

Foot shears, Hoof trimmers, Hoof knife

Materials for hoof trimming

Prevents lesions by restoring upright foot angle, Distributes weight evenly between medial and lateral hooves

Benefits of hoof trimming

Identify the hoof structure, Grasp one leg by the pastern and bend it back, Scrape away debris with closed shears, Pry open and snip off the outer hoof wall flap, Trim down to the white sole, following a growth ring, Trim down the edges of the inner hoof wall, Trim the soft heel in small slices until the heel and toe are the same level, Stop trimming when you see pink

Steps on trimming goat's hoof

Rasp

Large, flat file used to smooth and shape the hoof after trimming

Rasp

Helps remove rough edges and ensure an even hoof surface

Hoof nippers

Used to cut excess hoof wall that has overgrown

Hoof nippers

Ideal for thicker, harder hooves, especially in older animals

Right-hand and left-hand hoof knife

Specialized curved knives for cutting and cleaning the hoof

Right-hand and left-hand hoof knives

Used to trim the sole, remove dirt, and shape the hoof

Trimming scissors

Spring-loaded trimmers used for precise cuts

Hoof shears

Best for small livestock like goats and sheep with softer hooves

approx 7mm per month

Normal growth rate of the horn of the cow's hoof

4-6 months

Recommended frequency of hoof trimming

3-4 months

Recommended frequency of hoof trimming for animals with hoof lesions

6-8 weeks

Frequency of hoof trimming for goats

Animal identification

Basis of keeping accurate production records of the herd / flock

Animal's parentages, Birth date, Production records, Health history

Records kept for identification

Tattooing

Permanent method of identifying

Black ink

Tattoo ink used for white ears

Green ink

Tattoo ink used for black pigmented ears

5-6 months

Best age for tattooing kids and lamb

Select the number to be tattooed, Place the first set up and remaining numbers in a jar for disinfection, Catch and restrain the animal, Examine the ear and find ribs of cartilage with spaces, Insert the tattoo numerals into the widest of these spaces carefully, Clean the front and back of the ear, Place the tattoo pliers over the edge, and press the numbers into the ear, Release and rub the ink or paste into the needle punctures

Steps in tattooing

Notch on top of the left ear

1

Notch on bottom of the left ear

10

Notch on end of the left ear

100

Hole on the center of the left ear

1000

Notch on top of the right ear

3

Notch on bottom of the right ear

30

Notch on end of the right ear

300

Hole on the center of the right ear

3000

Ear tagging

Attaching a tag to the ear enables easy identification of an animal throughout its lifetime

Between 2nd and 3rd cartilage rib

Area who place ear tag

Bred on property

Meaning of green tag

Brought onto property

Meaning of pink tag

Male

Tag in left ear

Female

Tag in right ear

Freeze branding

Involves the use of branding irons being chilled in liquid nitrogen or dry ice

Hide

Site where freeze branding is applied

Chilled branding iron kills the cells that produce color pigment in the hair follicle

Reason why freeze branding works

Allows for identification from a greater distance

Advantage of freeze branding

Neck chains

Used as a common method of identification in dairy cattle

Neck chains

Has a numbered tag attached that corresponds to the animals identification number

Neck chains

Easy to apply; painless

Sheep shearing

Process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off

Warmer months

Best time to sheer sheep

4-6 weeks before mating, Don't shear right after mating

Considerations for ewe shearing

Don't shear after meals, Don't shear when wet

Sheep shearing preparations

Herd health

Crucial to the success of a profitable farm

Disease status identifying the key challenges and areas of risk

Outlined by a herd health plan

Vaccination

Example of a framework for disease prevention strategy

Impact on humans

Herd health regarding the food supply and efficient production

Health

Condition of an animal with regard to the performance of its vital function

Disease

Impairment of the normal state of function of the living animal

Passive immunity

Immunity that passes from the cow to her calf in colostrum

Active immunity

Naturally developed from exposure to disease of immunization