Horns vs. No horns. What do you like best?

[Canadiannee]

lol, I have to put my two cents in, because for all it's worth... I like horns!

I understand that there's a possibility that horns can cause injuries, not only to humans but to other animals and herdmates... I've heard plenty of stories of mishaps and the fire in the debate on whether to disbud or not, and I've experienced a "doughhead" moment of my own when I wasn't thinking, picked up a 6 month old doeling who tossed her head back and thumped me a good one in the mouth breaking one of my teeth... but it wasn't her fault, it was mine.

I know this is an extreme exaggeration and lol, I intend it to be... but I've been kicked, bitten, run over and struck by a few horses in my lifetime and I haven't yet de-hoofed one, or pulled it's teeth out Instead, I walk into a stall, arena, or paddock with my "game" on... I know what one of these animals is capable of doing if I'm not paying attention and taking precautions, and I'm pretty much the same way with my goats... I know which ones in my herd can be trouble, and I know which ones aren't, but all and all, they're still animals, and they have their own behaviours and I respect that.

To the OP... to disbud or not to disbud is totally up to your personal perferences, unless as others have said, your intention is to show your animals. Only you can decide what works for you according to the type of operation you've set up and what your purpose is... I personally have no issues with horns, I like them, and I'm willing to "butt proof" my pens and enclosures to keep my goats intact... Call me crazy that way!

 

[upsidedown]

I am very new to goats. I have 2 does, 1 with horns and 1 without, 1 buck with horns, 1 buckling with horns and 2 bucklings that were dehorned by the previous owners (they were 2 weeks old when I got them along with one of my does) the 2 bucklings that were "dehorned" have scurs. When were were looking for goats and other people herds, we saw a lot of scurs on supposedly dehorned goats.

We made that decision then that most people in my area do not do a good job of dehorning and we preferred not to on a single buckling.

I personally have no problems with them getting caught in the fence, using them against me. My goats are all dairy, sometimes it makes it easier to get them off the milk stand

 

[KWAK]

I'm going to be leaving horns on any kids I plan on keeping for breeding stock, if I plan on selling them I'll probably have them de-horned.

 

[cknipp]

very interesting thread... We bought 2 pregnant Alpines with horns. They both have since kidded and I was debating disbudding the kids. I have decided against it. Glad to read about others who keep horns. They do help keep them on the milking stand! We have an electric strand that keeps them off the fence and from getting tangled in the fence. The only downside so far has been the possibility of hurting the new kids or my Pyrenese puppy. Everyone will hopefully learn quickly though.

 

[Southern by choice]

very interesting thread... We bought 2 pregnant Alpines with horns. They both have since kidded and I was debating disbudding the kids. I have decided against it. Glad to read about others who keep horns. They do help keep them on the milking stand! We have an electric strand that keeps them off the fence and from getting tangled in the fence. The only downside so far has been the possibility of hurting the new kids or my Pyrenese puppy. Everyone will hopefully learn quickly though.

I did an article on this very subject however I edited the article adding another important factor. There is an additional thread telling Millie's story. You may want to take a look at it.
Although I like horns, dairy goats... nope... never again and you will see why. Also many that are getting our dwarfs and mini's especially, have small children and unfortunately accidents happen... those horns are right at face level with young children.
Since writing these our goats are growing older. The dairy goats seem to grow more ornery with their horns as they age and can get quite nasty.
Our Kiko's are still all horned, but their horns are different and we never have issues except for them getting stuck in trees which happens often.
http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/horns-dis-bud-polled.31/

 

[Hens and Roos]

with my kids planning to show our goats for 4-H(no horns allowed in dairy goats) and for safety we plan to de- horn. One of our new does has a scur so she wont be shown.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

with my kids planning to show our goats for 4-H(no horns allowed in dairy goats) and for safety we plan to de- horn. One of our new does has a scur so she wont be shown.

How bad is the scur? Most scurs can be clipped. I think you still can show does with small scurs, but I'm not sure

 

[Hens and Roos]

not to big- kind of like a bump- I have to check and see what is allowed maybe she would be showable

 

[Fullhousefarm]

You can show with a scur as long as it isn't a "horn." I think the rule is less than 1" off head, but I've seen some longer do well in the ring.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Small scur isn't a problem. Honestly, didn't know there was a rule but I remember one show where one doe had a bad one and the judge commented if she planned to continue showing her she needed to have it removed.