Re: Horns on goats
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Posted by PH Cody on August 23, 2002 at 10:26:11:
In Reply to: Horns on goats posted by jamiepantsca on August 22, 2002 at 19:57:24:
:Since I am new to raising goats I still have many questions.
:My goats have horns and I was thinking of getting rid of them for safety reasons (For the goat's safety, my dogs, and my kneecaps!) I've heard that using strong elastics works. Is this uncomfortable for them?
Well, you will get many sides of the story when you ask this question so I'll tell you mine...I've never heard of using elastic - are we talking rubber bands here? I have seen/heard of using things like metal bands, etc. However, I don't like that method at all. You risk problems like gangrene, tetanus, and bacterial infections with doing things like that. Not to mention, it can be quite painful. (My husband has explained it to people like this...out a rubber band around your finger and see how long you can handle that...) The most reliable way is to have them cauterized by either a vet or a dairy/goat farmer who does it often enough to know how to do it. Yes, it is painful but its quick and does a thorough job when done correctly. You alos have a whole lot less risk of complications and infections associated with it.
However, one important thing to remember regardless of the method is you need to do it while they are still very young. As they horns grow, they will open on the inside, becoming hollow. This opening is an actual opening into the skull and so if you must dehorn them later in life, it is a serious operation with lots of risks.
Another quick word here as to knee caps! Even a dehorned goat can do some serious bruising with that hard skull of theirs. Its best to discourage them from butting people from "kid-hood". Just as you would teach your dogs not to jump on people, teach your kids not to butt. This is super important if you ever have human kids about who are more the goats size and can take a hard enough blow to the chest to break ribs...
Good luck with them :)
PH Cody
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