Question on dehorning

[BCCC]

I have two fall heifers dehroned and they throw a fit when you touch their head with anything. Have another heifer that I had cosmeticly dehorned, and most times if I scratch her head she's fine, but if anyone else trys to touch her head she absoultly freaks, bellers, and charges at em.(kinda fun to watch though)

 

[OH Breeder]

After having an interesting conversation with another SP member, i did a little research on Temple Grandin. Lots of good information out there on animal behavior and pain. Temple Grandin said in her research what you have to remember with prey animals like cattle they don't demonstrate the same symptoms as humans do when in pain. They actually will react worse to fear than pain because of the built in mechanism of fight or flight. Prey animals are use to flight when scared. They can tolerate large amounts of pain and will not demonstrate it as we would expect them too. Do not let that confuse you that they do not "experience" pain. Cows feel pain but react differently than we do. It is not uncommon for an animal to recall what caused fear or pain previously.

one study that was performed animals were injected with a substance that caused a systemic arthritis and induced pain. The animals were offered a known substance that was bitter in taste and previously would not be consumed by the animal. They also were offered their favorite foods. The animals consumed the items that were injected with pain killers over their favorite foods. Deduction was they consumed the items even though they previously never would based on the pain killers.

Too deep I know............... :-\

 

[Shady Lane]

Typically I perform all dehorning and minor surgical practices on my own cattle. Quite frankly because there isn't anybody else to do it except me and have never caused an issue.

  I hav definitely noticed a general tendency for dehorned cattle to be much more "touchy" around their head and difficult to clip etc.

One thing I do now though is dehorn at less than 14 days of age.

I use a Buddex cordless electric dehorner and can quite quickly burn the buds on a small calf whenthey are younf and very easy to handle.

They seem to forget about it almost instantly.

My personal belief is that a calf does not have a great deal of long term memory at that stage, sort of like I don't remember the Doctor spanking my soaking wet bare bum the momment I was born yet my mother swears it happened.


<cowboy>

 

[justintime]

Jamie, when I was born the Doctor slapped my mother! ...... But I don't remember that either.

 

[hunter1]

I know one thing my dad always gives our calves their shoots and when he comes over just to look at them they definitely don't like him the steer almost goes crazy and the last time has been about 4 months ago and he is still remembering...