Tail Docking and Dehorning Cattle
To wrap up this Dairy Myths Series, I will be combining two topics (tail docking and dehorning) into one post. My focus will be on why farmers use these processes, methods of doing them, and how animal rights activists have [yet again] gotten in the way of farmer’s goals. Just like in all of my previous articles, it’s very important that farmers make avoiding livestock distress their number one priority, which is followed closely by informing consumers of how they abstain from cruelty.
Tail Docking
Tail docking is the removal of the bottom part of the tail. To vegan activists, this often gets portrayed as a very bloody and painful operation, but that is not the case. Removing the tail is done a lot like a human surgery would happen. The calves are usually put under, and stitched back up before any real blood loss or pain occurs. Even if the calves are not put under, there are still pain relievers or disinfectants, such as iodine, involved. But why go through all this trouble? Dairy farmers dock tails because it helps prevent disease. At the end of a cows tail, there is several long, coarse hairs that make up a “switch” that they use to swat flies. However, this switch catches manure, and gets in the way of the milking machines because it hangs right behind the utter. By removing the bottom part of the tail, there is no longer anything there to catch contaminants. This process promotes health for the entire herd, and avoids sanitation hazards for the milk. |
Horn Removal
Dehorning is very similar in that it is made out to be cruel and gruesome, but is actually for the cattle’s well-being. Dehorning is done at a very early age (often as soon as days after birth). At this stage the horn hasn’t fully developed its roots in the skull yet, and can be removed easily. The longer a farmer waits, the more involved the procedure becomes because the horn’s connective tissues attach to the skull. Before two months of age is the standard time to remove this “free-floating” horn, and, at this point, removal is called disbudding.
Dehorning is very similar in that it is made out to be cruel and gruesome, but is actually for the cattle’s well-being. Dehorning is done at a very early age (often as soon as days after birth). At this stage the horn hasn’t fully developed its roots in the skull yet, and can be removed easily. The longer a farmer waits, the more involved the procedure becomes because the horn’s connective tissues attach to the skull. Before two months of age is the standard time to remove this “free-floating” horn, and, at this point, removal is called disbudding.
Methods of Disbudding
Disbudding can be done using a product called caustic paste, which applies a thin film of calcium and sodium hydroxide that chemically burns the horn-producing cells. When done properly, this should cause no pain to the calves at all. Some farms have reported that their calves will actually sleep through the procedure!
Disbudding can be done using a product called caustic paste, which applies a thin film of calcium and sodium hydroxide that chemically burns the horn-producing cells. When done properly, this should cause no pain to the calves at all. Some farms have reported that their calves will actually sleep through the procedure!
Another method of disbudding is using a hot iron to remove the horn tissue, and this is quite a bit more painful. Sedation or use of anesthesia is common in these instances. One advantage of hot iron disbudding over caustic paste is that it’s a much quicker procedure. Calves have to be kept indoors and away from other animals for at least six hours after the paste has been applied to avoid smearing. However, after twenty seconds of heat, the calf is good to go.
Yet another alternative is to physically remove the horn bud. This can be done with a knife or scoop. I once visited with a dairy farmer who simply twisted the horn buds off with his hands. How affective this was at preventing horn growth later in life, I’m not sure, but he seemed very happy with his technique. |
Dehorning
After two months of age, the horn has connected to the skull, and the removal is called dehorning. This is generally avoided because the process exposes the sinus cavities, releases a lot of blood, and has a higher chance of infection. If dehorning is necessary, coagulants or cauterization should be used to reduce blood loss. Putting animals under is very common, although not necessary in all cases.
After two months of age, the horn has connected to the skull, and the removal is called dehorning. This is generally avoided because the process exposes the sinus cavities, releases a lot of blood, and has a higher chance of infection. If dehorning is necessary, coagulants or cauterization should be used to reduce blood loss. Putting animals under is very common, although not necessary in all cases.
Purpose
But why do breeders insist on this controversial practice? Having horns later in life is a huge risk for injury to other animals as well as workers. Being milked three times a day means that the cattle are constantly on the move and pass frequently through narrow alleyways together. One wrong move, and a horn could make a serious puncture that would lead to much more distress than the dehorning does. Twenty seconds of pain during infancy avoids major harm in adulthood.
But why do breeders insist on this controversial practice? Having horns later in life is a huge risk for injury to other animals as well as workers. Being milked three times a day means that the cattle are constantly on the move and pass frequently through narrow alleyways together. One wrong move, and a horn could make a serious puncture that would lead to much more distress than the dehorning does. Twenty seconds of pain during infancy avoids major harm in adulthood.
So What's The Issue?
Unfortunately, many animal rights activists have put pressure on dairy farms, causing them to quit docking tails or dehorning, thus presenting animal welfare hazards unknowingly. In many parts of the world, these methods have been outlawed, causing them to become obsolete. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Luxemburg, and Australia all have banned tail docking. An outright ban of dehorning is very rare, but most developed nations do have mandates as to how it should be carried out. The problem is that these mandates are too often based on the pressures of animal welfare advocates who do not understand farming practices, and legislatures do not take the time to get input from concerned farmers who are experienced with cattle and livestock’s needs. Consumers need to understand that farmers have a purpose behind their methods, and very often that purpose is for the animal’s benefit. |
Like most things PETA says, this is FALSE!
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Sources
"Dehorning and Descenting." (2009): 723-31. American Veterinary Medical Association. American Veterinary Medical
Association, 15 July 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2017.
Lucas, Dave. "How Caustic Dehorning Paste Works." How Caustic Dehorning Paste Works. H.W. Naylor Co., Inc., 14 Apr. 2011.
Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
Naylor, H. W. W. Co. "What Is Disbudding | What Is Dehorning." What Is Disbudding | What Is Dehorning. H.W. Naylor Co., Inc.,
n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
Petrie, Stafford, Mellor, Bruce, and Ward. "The Behaviour of Calves Tail Docked with a Rubber Ring Used with or without Local
Anaesthesia." 55 (1995): n. pag. New Zealand Society of Animal Production. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.
Tilton-Flood, Jenny. "Why Do So Many Dairy Farmers Cut Their Cows Tails Off." Ask The Farmers. Ask The Farmers, 12 Sept. 2014.
Web. 22 Jan. 2017.
"Welfare Implications of Dehorning and Disbudding Cattle." Welfare Implications of Dehorning and Disbudding Cattle.
American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 15 July 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.
"Dehorning and Descenting." (2009): 723-31. American Veterinary Medical Association. American Veterinary Medical
Association, 15 July 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2017.
Lucas, Dave. "How Caustic Dehorning Paste Works." How Caustic Dehorning Paste Works. H.W. Naylor Co., Inc., 14 Apr. 2011.
Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
Naylor, H. W. W. Co. "What Is Disbudding | What Is Dehorning." What Is Disbudding | What Is Dehorning. H.W. Naylor Co., Inc.,
n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
Petrie, Stafford, Mellor, Bruce, and Ward. "The Behaviour of Calves Tail Docked with a Rubber Ring Used with or without Local
Anaesthesia." 55 (1995): n. pag. New Zealand Society of Animal Production. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.
Tilton-Flood, Jenny. "Why Do So Many Dairy Farmers Cut Their Cows Tails Off." Ask The Farmers. Ask The Farmers, 12 Sept. 2014.
Web. 22 Jan. 2017.
"Welfare Implications of Dehorning and Disbudding Cattle." Welfare Implications of Dehorning and Disbudding Cattle.
American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 15 July 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.