Cow Horn Surgery

Cow horn surgery, called dehorning, is a simple procedure to remove the horns from a calf or older cow. Feedlot cattle that are allowed to keep their horns cause considerable bruising to the carcasses of other cattle in the lots and during transport. Most bruises caused by horned cattle occur on the rib, loin, round and other valuable cuts of meat. Dehorned cattle cause less damage and take less space at feed troughs.

  1. Age and Time of Dehorning

    • Ideally, you should dehorn your calves when they are less than 1 month old to minimize complications. The horns are smaller and easier to remove when the calves are small, so the procedure causes less stress to the animals. Dehorn your calves in early spring or in the fall to avoid the worst fly season and minimize the risk of infection.

    Dehorning Procedures for Young Calves

    • In a chemical dehorning procedure, the veterinarian or cattle producer applies a chemical paste to the horn buds. This paste contains a caustic material such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. You can use this procedure on calves as young as 1 day old, but should not use it on calves older than 3 weeks. Hot iron dehorning involves heating an iron and burning the skin at the base of the horn where the horn grows. This procedure works best on calves 2 months old or younger and on horns less than 1 inch long.

    Dehorning Procedure for Older Calves

    • For calves between 2 months and 1 year old, a Barnes dehorner is the best choice. This device comes in different sizes to accommodate different horn sizes; use a Barnes dehorner large enough to remove the horn and a 1/4- to 1/2-inch circle of skin at the base of the horn.

      To use the Barnes dehorner, close the handles and place the blades over the horn, aligning the widest part of the cutting blade with the widest area of the horn base. Press the dehorner against the calf's head and open the handles quickly, using a twisting motion to ensure a clean cut through the skin.

    Care of Dehorned Calves

    • Older cattle are more prone to bleeding after the dehorning procedure. You can use artery clamps to grab the artery and pull it slowly away from the calf's head until it breaks. This stretching of the artery makes it narrow, allowing clotting to slow the bleeding. Once the bleeding has slowed or stopped, you can apply a coagulation powder to the wound and follow it with fly spray to keep insects away and minimize the chance of infection. After dehorning, move the calf to a quiet area with plenty of shade so its blood pressure will drop after the stress, reducing the chance of further bleeding.

    Complications

    • Complications more often occur in calves dehorned when they are more than 2 months old. These older calves may lose weight, taking up to 2 weeks to regain it. You will need to monitor your calves until the wounds heal and treat any sign of infections immediately. In rare instances, a calf may die of blood loss after the dehorning procedure.