Banding Horns

[ksalvagno]

I just banded my alpine, Millie. We followed Kate's method. Since we never did it before, we didn't get through the first layer all the way around on the first horn but did on the second horn. So we are expecting the first horn to take longer than the second horn. Also didn't need to use duct tape. The grooves are deep enough that the bands are staying in place on both horns. I think you can faintly see the green down by the end of Millie's horns.

 

[BlackWatchLady]

first two pics taken a day or two after banding...

others taken today, now this is odd, he wasn't missing that chunk last night??

You can see the degloved horn, it left the inner, so likely am going to have to reband it...

 

[helmstead]

BWL - you placed the bands way too high because you didn't shave back the hair to find the true hairline. Those will come off, but leave tall scurs...just like the one that already broke.

 

[ksalvagno]

We ended up using OB wire instead of a file. It was just taking too long to try and get the groove with the file. If you use OB wire, you do have to be careful that you don't go too deep and it does get hot.

 

[helmstead]

We ended up using OB wire instead of a file. It was just taking too long to try and get the groove with the file. If you use OB wire, you do have to be careful that you don't go too deep and it does get hot.

Whatever works for you It's just very helpful on adult goats to A)give the bands 'grip' and B)give the bands a little head start through the tough outer shell.

 

[ksalvagno]

It was just funny with my vet over here. I was filing and filing for a good 5 minutes and barely scratched the surface of one small area. I joked that she was going to be here all day helping me and that was when she thought of the OB wire. Probably if DH was there using the file, it probably wouldn't have taken so long. Of course, I had never used a file before so probably part of the problem was "operator error."

 

[BlackWatchLady]

BWL - you placed the bands way too high because you didn't shave back the hair to find the true hairline. Those will come off, but leave tall scurs...just like the one that already broke.

I figured that we did, but, its a learning process, esp when we are kind on our own....( no IRL help) we will reband I am sure, but, not going to sweat scurs on these guys, since we wethered them...
I have found some people band below the hairline, and some above...and I pushed as close as I had seen the ones above the hairline, I will reband right on the hairline...

 

[helmstead]

Just mentioned it because banding is not something I would want to put a goat through twice, so for those looking - please be sure to shave the hair back and place the 1st (upper) band AT the hairline and then roll a 2nd (lower) band BELOW that one, on the skin.

Good luck!

 

[manybirds]

I recently purchased a 7 month old dairy doe with horns. I have banded them with castrator bands and wrapped electrical tape around the bands to keep them in place. its been about a week. I checked them out today and I hardly see any difference. Looks like the bands barely made a mark. So I replaced the bands with fresh ones. How long does this usually take? Someone told me two weeks, but I can't see it working in that short amount of time. The reason I am banding her is because she is agressive and likes to use her horns on my other doe's. I'm afraid of her damaging my milk goats udders

did you file down the first layer of horn BEFORE you banded them? this is cruical in the process. take a metal rounded file and get as close to the head as you can and file away. once the first layer of the horn is gone put one band in the groove and another band rite above it. hope it helped!

 

[BlackWatchLady]

Just mentioned it because banding is not something I would want to put a goat through twice, so for those looking - please be sure to shave the hair back and place the 1st (upper) band AT the hairline and then roll a 2nd (lower) band BELOW that one, on the skin.

Good luck!

I don't think its much to nice to have to burn, or band twice...but honestly, I am finding I prefer to band them off. I have checked out a lot of video's of the burning, (including off your spouse's site) and it makes me a bit sick feeling. I feel I can always get vet help for the banding if issues arrive, but a vet won't be much good for a seared brain.

Scurs I can deal with, our buck gets them, and he was burned, twice before we had picked him up. I will deal with his scurs again this weekend, when I clean up his legs and coat them with some corona ointment to deal with his urine scald..


And, just for the know how, Your spouse's site is the one we chose to emulate the banding from, but, obviously could not tell that either of the bands were on or below the hairline. Both myself and my spouse thought them at and slightly above hairline.... maybe someone can add arrows and labeling to the photo's???