Please tell me everything about disbudding with paste!

[OneFineAcre]

You're supposed to put it on just one time, yes. We did multiple tries ourselves because it took a while to get the hang of it, and I kept doing it wrong. In theory, it's a single application.
My guys are about three weeks old now. They're Nigerian Dwarfs, so their horns don't grow as fast as full-size goats, but this is still a long time to be waiting, from what I've heard. It's hard to say how big the horns are, as I'm not sure how you're supposed to measure them. Most of them feel more like hard little mounds under the fur, rather than protruding horns.

I have Nigerians also. I have no experience with full sized goats, but i can tell you that ND bucks grow pretty fast.

We usually disbud at 7-10 days old. Bucks always, sometimes does need to be done that fast.

We did two bucklings on Sunday that were 11 days old.

At 11 days old, after we made the first burn, we took our hoof trimming shears and cut the bud back flush with the skull. It was already up about 3/8" above the skull.

We applied the second burn in a figure 8 so that the edge of the iron would be on the horn bud to carterize.

 

[s.z.ichigo]

You're supposed to put it on just one time, yes. We did multiple tries ourselves because it took a while to get the hang of it, and I kept doing it wrong. In theory, it's a single application.
My guys are about three weeks old now. They're Nigerian Dwarfs, so their horns don't grow as fast as full-size goats, but this is still a long time to be waiting, from what I've heard. It's hard to say how big the horns are, as I'm not sure how you're supposed to measure them. Most of them feel more like hard little mounds under the fur, rather than protruding horns.

I have Nigerians also. I have no experience with full sized goats, but i can tell you that ND bucks grow pretty fast.

We usually disbud at 7-10 days old. Bucks always, sometimes does need to be done that fast.

We did two bucklings on Sunday that were 11 days old.

At 11 days old, after we made the first burn, we took our hoof trimming shears and cut the bud back flush with the skull. It was already up about 3/8" above the skull.

We applied the second burn in a figure 8 so that the edge of the iron would be on the horn bud to carterize.

Oh man, am I going to have to do that?? I'm hoping that post-burn they don't feel it? I'll have to look up what a figure-8 burn is now.

 

[OneFineAcre]

You're supposed to put it on just one time, yes. We did multiple tries ourselves because it took a while to get the hang of it, and I kept doing it wrong. In theory, it's a single application.
My guys are about three weeks old now. They're Nigerian Dwarfs, so their horns don't grow as fast as full-size goats, but this is still a long time to be waiting, from what I've heard. It's hard to say how big the horns are, as I'm not sure how you're supposed to measure them. Most of them feel more like hard little mounds under the fur, rather than protruding horns.

I have Nigerians also. I have no experience with full sized goats, but i can tell you that ND bucks grow pretty fast.

We usually disbud at 7-10 days old. Bucks always, sometimes does need to be done that fast.

We did two bucklings on Sunday that were 11 days old.

At 11 days old, after we made the first burn, we took our hoof trimming shears and cut the bud back flush with the skull. It was already up about 3/8" above the skull.

We applied the second burn in a figure 8 so that the edge of the iron would be on the horn bud to carterize.

Oh man, am I going to have to do that?? I'm hoping that post-burn they don't feel it? I'll have to look up what a figure-8 burn is now.

Bucks have a larger horn base, so you can either use a larger tip on the disbudding iron, or you can do a figure 8. It's pretty clear. First burn leaves a circle. 2nd burn you over lap the first burn, but expand the area, forward like down towards their snout.

We put 3 burns per horn on these guys. And took hoof trimming shears and cut the buds off after first burn.

If I get home early enough today, I'll get some pictures. Maybe somebody else can show you some pictures though.

I know it sounds kind of rough, and that's why some people don't disbud. Trust me I know. We hate doing it.

But, I also know that five minutes after you put them back in the pen they act like nothing happened.

And the boys don't seem to hold a grudge. Next day they will come up to you like nothing ever happened.

It's much worse if you have to do it a second time. Trust me I know. Or, it get's expensive if you have to get the vet to do it when they are 4 months old. Trust me, been there too.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think you can see the figure 8 in these pictures. Like I said these guys were 11 days old. Their buds were a good 3/8". After the first burn we took roof trimming shears and cut the buds as close to flush as we could get it. When we made the 2nd burn on the figure 8 it carterized the cut, although they didn't bleed very much.

After the burn, you should see the nice copper color. You can see that here. Where it is turning black is where it's starting to scab. You'll get a scab cap that will fall off.

We put an ice compress between burns, and spray with an anticeptic burn spray when we finish.

 

[s.z.ichigo]

Okay, I get it now. Thanks for the pictures! Does this accomplish the same thing I've seen people do in videos where they use the side of the iron to re-burn the top? I will be sure to buy antiseptic spray tomorrow if I'm going to be drawing blood. The horns aren't that big though, I don't think. They don't stick up through the fur or anything. I guess it will be a game-day decision.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I bet they are bigger than you think
If they were breaking the skin they'd be 3/4"

Did they cut the buds before they did the thing with the side of the iron?


Of course, maybe the paste did something there.

Get something like Solarcain or some generic version

 

[s.z.ichigo]

No, they didn't cut them, I think they were kind of filling in the circle to ensure it was complete. You're probably right though, once the burn is done, I imagine the horns will end up being bigger than I think they are. I was thinking you meant 3/8" over the surface of the skin. I'll take a picture tomorrow of the pasted horns and maybe get a more knowledgable opinion on how they look. My dusbuddings have been pushed back to Thursday.

I'm very grateful for all the info I'm getting here, thank you

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

The breeders around here burn all the way to the skull and pop off the caps with the hot iron, then sprays with blue kote. Takes about 3 weeks to heal, you do get the scabs that fall off, but they are fine. I've heard that's the only way to prevent scurs.

 

[s.z.ichigo]

Just an update on the babies. We had a lady out here today to do them with the iron, and to have a look at the two that had the paste.

The two boys that got the paste we're letting go to see what happens. She said it looked like a good burn, so hopefully there won't be a problem with scurs. It's entirely likely that they still will get them, but we'll see what they look like before deciding whether or not to do anything further.

Their sister got the iron, and was the easiest to do. It looked fairly clean, but one horn cap had a bit of bleeding.

The youngest, but largest, boy also got the iron. he took quite a lot of work on one of his horns to get the cap off. It was very stubborn.

The biggest girl looked like her horns were just too large, so we didn't attempt any disbudding on her. She'll just have to wear the natural look.

So that's where we stand. We're going to watch all of them for scurs and deal with them as they come, which due to their ages I understand is likely. I learned a big lesson about waiting too long, and next year I hope to do much better. Right now they're all hanging out, looking like nothing ever happened. In a little while we'll let their mothers back in with them.