Horns and Nigerian Dwarfs

[genuck]

The first goats I got all had horns, pygmy cashmere, I have one of the does left. Her horns go straight up, I'm forever worrying that I'll lose an eye. Her sire had beautiful long curvy horns, for that reason I left the horns on the buckling from her sister.

All my others have horns except for my togg x pygmy. They are either angora or pygoras, breeders seem to go 50/50 on disbudding with them.

Personally I like the curling horns, I don't keep collars on any of them since they have horns. Even the one with no horns headbutts the others, she has no clue she's unarmed...

 

[manybirds]

I know it's a personal choice but 50/50 is not good either. the horned goats will have a big advantage over the disbudded goats. all of them should be disbudded.

 

[kstaven]

I know it's a personal choice but 50/50 is not good either. the horned goats will have a big advantage over the disbudded goats. all of them should be disbudded.

Sorry for your experiences, but disbudding is a choice and one that should never be forced on any animal owner. Education as to dealing with horns or no horns and the problems with each is the responsible approach.

Often people bring on their own problems with horned animals because they use them as grab handles when they are young. Great way to teach a horned animal exactly what you don't want them to do.

 

[Goatherd]

With every discussion concerning the removal of horns on goats, or other animals for that matter, safety, cosmetic, showing ability, increased selling price, etc. is the forefront of the discussion.
Rarely, if ever, have I read anyone post anything regarding the physiological function of a horn.

My understanding, limited that it may be, is that the horn is very vascular and that has been proven many times over from broken horns or the removal of horns on adult animals. This vascular system has been known to help regulate body temperature in heavily bodied animals not to mention releasing heat from the brain when an animal is over-heated.

Just wanted to add another facet to the conversation even though horns vs no horns will always be a personal choice.

 

[20kidsonhill]

We have boer, so we don't need to deal with the horns sticking straight up like on a nigerean, but I feel the horns are there for a reason, and dehorning them shouldn be carefully considered. If not done properly scurs can become a problem. It is not an easy procedure to do on any age animal, a lot of discomfort is involved. Do we fully understand the need for horns on a horned animal?

I am not saying it shouldn't be done, being constantly stuck in a fence all day isn't very healthy for the goat either.

Dehorning them may be a better option if you have limited space for your goats. Goats are harder on each other with less space, so dehorning all of them may be better for the low man on the totem pole.

It is a personal choice, just keep asking questions and doing research. I would suggest choosing either all horned or all dehorned, the onse with no horns will not stand a chance against the onse with horns.

 

[manybirds]

We have boer, so we don't need to deal with the horns sticking straight up like on a nigerean, but I feel the horns are there for a reason, and dehorning them shouldn be carefully considered. If not done properly scurs can become a problem. It is not an easy procedure to do on any age animal, a lot of discomfort is involved. Do we fully understand the need for horns on a horned animal?

I am not saying it shouldn't be done, being constantly stuck in a fence all day isn't very healthy for the goat either.

Dehorning them may be a better option if you have limited space for your goats. Goats are harder on each other with less space, so dehorning all of them may be better for the low man on the totem pole.

It is a personal choice, just keep asking questions and doing research. I would suggest choosing either all horned or all dehorned, the onse with no horns will not stand a chance against the onse with horns.

My thoughts exactly! thank you! (on the not keeping 50/50 thing

 

[20kidsonhill]

We have boer, so we don't need to deal with the horns sticking straight up like on a nigerean, but I feel the horns are there for a reason, and dehorning them shouldn be carefully considered. If not done properly scurs can become a problem. It is not an easy procedure to do on any age animal, a lot of discomfort is involved. Do we fully understand the need for horns on a horned animal?

I am not saying it shouldn't be done, being constantly stuck in a fence all day isn't very healthy for the goat either.

Dehorning them may be a better option if you have limited space for your goats. Goats are harder on each other with less space, so dehorning all of them may be better for the low man on the totem pole.

It is a personal choice, just keep asking questions and doing research. I would suggest choosing either all horned or all dehorned, the onse with no horns will not stand a chance against the onse with horns.

My thoughts exactly! thank you! (on the not keeping 50/50 thing

I made a mistake last year of bringing home our first dehorned doe, this girl is big, as in as big as any of the largest does I have on the farm, and she is constantly getting beat up, I have to pen her with one friend at night to feed her in the winter or she would starve to death, she does okay on pasture, since there is so much room, but if it rains or storms she is stuck standing outside of the calf huts. We don't allow our herd in the barn in the summer, not that she would beable to get in the barn anyway. she had triplets and two were stillborn, I am not so sure that wasn't from the stress of being beat up and not being able to find a quiet place to lay down and kid, Next year I am going to try to give her more of her own space a couple weeks before she is due. Live and learn.

 

[manybirds]

We have boer, so we don't need to deal with the horns sticking straight up like on a nigerean, but I feel the horns are there for a reason, and dehorning them shouldn be carefully considered. If not done properly scurs can become a problem. It is not an easy procedure to do on any age animal, a lot of discomfort is involved. Do we fully understand the need for horns on a horned animal?

I am not saying it shouldn't be done, being constantly stuck in a fence all day isn't very healthy for the goat either.

Dehorning them may be a better option if you have limited space for your goats. Goats are harder on each other with less space, so dehorning all of them may be better for the low man on the totem pole.

It is a personal choice, just keep asking questions and doing research. I would suggest choosing either all horned or all dehorned, the onse with no horns will not stand a chance against the onse with horns.

My thoughts exactly! thank you! (on the not keeping 50/50 thing

I made a mistake last year of bringing home our first dehorned doe, this girl is big, as in as big as any of the largest does I have on the farm, and she is constantly getting beat up, I have to pen her with one friend at night to feed her in the winter or she would starve to death, she does okay on pasture, since there is so much room, but if it rains or storms she is stuck standing outside of the calf huts. We don't allow our herd in the barn in the summer, not that she would beable to get in the barn anyway. she had triplets and two were stillborn, I am not so sure that wasn't from the stress of being beat up and not being able to find a quiet place to lay down and kid, Next year I am going to try to give her more of her own space a couple weeks before she is due. Live and learn.

You must do all horned? I do all dehorned. might them being still born be from being rammed in the stomach? i know i've heard of that happening.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

The Horned vs. Dehorned debate is right up there with Ford vs. Chevy, and Coke vs. Pepsi. It will never be won, and it will never end. Something I appreciate on BYH is that I've never been condemned for not disbudding. I joined a Yahoo group that about lynched me for leaving the horns intact.

I will say one thing about the "cooling factor" of horns. Our neighbor's saanen has large horns and if you put your hand on them they are VERY warm to the touch. I have to think that they allow some cooling, even if it is minimal.

 

[elevan]

I know it's a personal choice but 50/50 is not good either. the horned goats will have a big advantage over the disbudded goats. all of them should be disbudded.

My dehorned goats are quite capable of putting the horned goats in their place. My herd is 50/50 right now...don't judge...and I will not be disbudding or dehorning any of my horned goats or future kids that will stay on my farm. That is my stand and my choice for my farm, I understand and accept all risks and have not yet had an issue with my pygmy and dwarf goats.

Anyone wanting to buy a dehorned kid from me will pay the fee for disbudding by my vet and a deposit upon the birth of the animal.