Beef cattle production and management
Practical Action
Surgical wire or guillotine saw
Fully-grown horns may be removed with a guillotine saw or surgical wire close to the head. Where
horn growth has developed to the stage where the base is too wide for hot iron dehorning, this
method is recommended but the use of a local anaesthetic entailing the services of a veterinarian
is necessary. Bleeding can be reduced by swabbing the wound with hydrogen peroxide.
Protection against infection and insect worry is necessary untiI the wound has formed a hard
crust or scab.
Dehorning an adult animal
Dehorning a young animal (the hot-iron method)
1. Put the end of hot iron over horn
2. Move the iron round to loosen the horn
3. Scrape the horn out completely
Dosing
Farmers to follow proper dosing intervals to
control internaI parasites
Strategic dosing involves dosing cattle for
every change in season
Drugs in liquid form may be administered by
mouth, using a long-necked bottle or dosing
gun. When administered as a drench, raise
the animal's head slightly and slowly and
administer the fluid into the side of the
mouth, allowing the animal to swallow freely. If
the animal's head is raised too high or if the
tongue is pulled out, it interferes with normal
A dosing gun
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