2023-08-04 05:17:53
Polled animals look better presented and cause less injury to each other when defining hierarchies within the herd. Likewise, a dehorned animal guarantees greater safety for the personnel who care for and manage them.
Dehorning and topizado are practices that must be known and applied, whenever possible and necessary, even more so when the livestock includes milk production, since during milking, daily handling will have greater safety, said Ricardo Arenas, a doctor. specialist veterinarian, in a new chapter of the Practical Livestock Manual, prepared by Fedegán.
The techniques
There are different techniques to dehorn or dehorn an animal, depending mainly on its age.
there is the topized with decorning paste which is the most recommended method in young animals because this way more complex procedures are avoided and would have greater difficulties when it comes to preserving the welfare of the animal. In this case, the materials are: scissors, a sharp knife, a head or loop, Vaseline and dehorning paste.
This procedure is performed between 5 and 15 days following birth when the corneal button is just appearing. To do this, the calf is held, preventing it from moving its head when applying the paste. With the calf immobile, the horn buttons are located; the hair above the button is shaved with the scissors, clearing it and fully exposing it. Subsequently, a Vaseline ring is applied around the button and on the skin to protect it since it is more sensitive to the action of the paste. (Read on Livestock context: How to topize in a more friendly way).
On the button and taking care not to smear the skin of the animal or the operator, apply the paste with an applicator only on it, covering it completely to avoid unwanted growths. Once the cream has been applied, the animal should be kept subject for a period of 15 to 20 minutes to prevent it from cleaning itself once morest the trees or once morest other animals as it causes temporary discomfort. This paste will prevent the corneal bud from developing and consequently a horn will not grow.
electric topping
This technique is performed with an electrical device that safely seeks to burn or atrophy the corneal button. The technique consists of holding and plucking the animal equally in the initial stage of corneal button development and following connecting the electric dehorner for a few minutes, firmly applying it to the entire button for 20 to 30 seconds.
In this technique it is important be careful with soft tissue such as the animal’s skin and eyes, as burns might be generated if not applied exclusively to the indicated site.
heat topped
This technique, frequently used in ranches in the mid and low tropics, is similar to electric topping, using a hot iron of similar shape and size to generate heat atrophy in the corneal button and prevent horn development. (Read on Livestock context: Which method do you prefer to dehorn cattle: physical or chemical?)
dehorn
When the animals were not dehorned with any of these techniques, for the safety of the other animals and the staff, it is recommended that during rearing, the horn should be dehorned by using a guaya or a sharp dehorner to reduce the danger of goring.
A maximum of two or three centimeters should be cut from the tip so that it does not get to cut where the horn is hollow and open the door to an infection.
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