Dehorning of Cattle and Disbudding of Calves Policy

Policy

The NZVA considers that dehorning and disbudding of cattle are a necessary farm practice, but, as painful procedures, require the use of appropriate analgesia.

Explanation

Horned cattle are capable of causing severe injury to other cattle and to handlers, as well as causing significant hide damage. Natural or artificial polling is therefore desirable.

While, under the Animal Welfare (Painful Husbandry Procedures) Code, analgesia is a recommendation rather than a minimum standard for disbudding and for dehorning of cattle under 9 months, the NZVA believes that the pain, tissue damage and distress caused by such procedures necessitates the use of pain relief.            

Disbudding of calves is preferable to dehorning older cattle. Trials have demonstrated that there is less short-term distress if calves are disbudded with a cautery iron.

Guidelines

1. Disbudding and dehorning should only be performed after effective “blocking’ of the cornual nerve with local anaesthetic.
2. Disbudding should be carried out between one and six weeks of age.
3. Disbudding using the cautery iron is the recommended method.
4. All calves should be observed for a period of two weeks after disbudding to detect those which become infected.
5. If practical, appropriate long acting analgesia should be given at the time of disbudding and dehorning.

Refer:

NQVS Standard Operating Procedure for the Process of Humane Disbudding of Calves, available from the NZVA office.

Animal Welfare (Painful Husbandry Procedures) Code

Policy Files: 

5h - Dehorning & Disbudding - 18Aug06.pdf