Methods of Dehorning Calves

There are several methods of dehorning calves but the non-invasive ones cause the least animal stress. Non-invasive methods are bloodless, whereas invasive practices cause bleeding. Care needs to be taken with invasive methods to ensure that bleeding stops. Age is an important factor in dehorning because horns are simply buds when calves are young. Calves barely notice horn bud removal at birth or before they reach four months of age.

  1. Electric

    • Electric dehorning is a non-invasive method, and is performed with a long cylindrical iron heated with household current. This method works best on calves less than two months old and with horns less than 1 inch long. Hair is clipped from around the horns where they join to the head. The hot iron is placed over the horn and held firmly in place while twisting it to evenly distribute the heat. This procedure is continued for 20 seconds and then the iron is removed. If there was enough heat for a proper amount of time, there will be a copper-colored ring with a white ring inside. Absence of these colors indicates that the procedure needs to be repeated. The horns fall off in about four to six weeks when the procedure is properly done.

    Chemical

    • Chemical dehorning is accomplished with a sodium or potassium hydroxide paste and is non-invasive. This method is the most effective after the calf is one day old and before they become three weeks old. Hair is clipped around the horn bud far enough to make a 1-inch diameter circle. Petroleum jelly is applied around the outside of the circle to prevent chemical burn. Dehorner paste is applied with a swab inside the circle. A scab forms where the paste was applied within a few days following application. In one to two weeks, the scab drops off, leaving a hairless area.

    Tube

    • Tube dehorning is an invasive method suitable for calves less than two months of age with horns less than 1 1/2 inches long. The tubes come in several sizes and their inside diameter should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch more than the horn bud base diameter. An appropriate sized tube is placed over the horn, pushed downward and twisted to cut the skin. After the skin is cut, the tube is leaned to the side and quickly pushed under the horn bud to remove it.

    Barnes

    • Barnes dehorners work by cutting off the horns, and are invasive. They function best on calves two months to one year of age. These dehorners come in several sizes, and it is important to select one that will remove the horn and a 1/4- to 1/2-inch circle of skin at the base of the horn. The horns are removed by cutting blades on the dehorner.