Dehorning Dairy Calves to Minimize Pain

Abstract

Dehorning dairy calves is a necessary practice that should be conducted as early as possible and with appropriate anesthetic/analgesia. With the possible exception of caustic paste, calves perceive and react to acute pain during dehorning when no local anesthetic is used. Additional analgesia has been shown to be beneficial in calves dehorned at or beyond eight weeks of age. A routine dehorning service conducted by trained technicians through a veterinary practice is one means of controlling dehorning protocols on-farm.