DISBUDDING GOATS
Bethany Collins
What is disbudding?
Disbudding of goat kids is a procedure that
is usually undertaken within seven days of
birth and involves using a hot iron to re-
move the horn buds before they develop.
Goat ’ s kids ’ horns develop rapidly; by 14
days of age the developing horn tissue will
have attached to the skull and is more diffi-
cult to remove
Why do we disbud?
Goats are naturally curious and exhibit lots of exploratory browsing behaviour making them prone to getting their horns caught in fences, hedges or other parts of their environment which can cause injury and distress. Unfortunately, goats can injure each other when playing or fighting and this can lead to wounds and infections that need veterinary treatment. They can also cause injury to their handlers and so many owners decide to disbud in order to be able to work with them more safely.
How do we perform disbuds?
Disbudding of goats must be done by a registered veterinary surgeon; it is a skilled procedure that should be carried out in a way that minimises pain and distress to the kid. Goats are very sensitive to local anaesthetic agents and so unfortunately cannot be disbudded conscious, in a similar manner to calves. Instead, vets induce general anaesthesia prior to disbudding to be able to quickly and effectively remove the horn buds with as little pain and distress as possible. Long lasting pain relief is also provided at the time to help ensure the kids bounce back to normal as soon as they wake up.
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