Disbudding Your Goat Kids

This was the first time that I had ever done a disbudding! It was more than a little nerve wracking. I sped up parts of the process for times sake as I know that it took me longer than it would have taken a pro. I wanted to show you that you can do it though! Daphne was running and playing less than a minute after we were done!
(This video has been edited and was originally posted in August of 2014 on my previous channel.)

[@wxdr1]

Bluecoat! So I burned myself once on a cast iron pan. It was hot enough to hear the sizzle of my skin. I went out to the barn and sprayed it with bluecoat. One spray and I felt nothing after that. No blister, no pain, skin peels in a couple of weeks. I’ve used it several times since, same result. I’ll never do a disbudding without it now.

[@naomicole1389]

Good work on your first time!! We have a wall of burns in our barn from testing the dehorner, ah the memories! My only advice would be to share what we do: do it when they are a bit smaller (3 days for the buck, 5ish days for the does) and do the "football tuck" under one arm and be COMPLETELY heartless and try to only do each side ONCE. It sounds horrid but you need to pin their nose down so they can't move their head and hang in there until their tongue sticks out. Experience will teach that though lol. A good cuddle hold and a snuggle after and it's 20 seconds of their lives you will never regret!

[@beauwilliams5584]

Thanks, very useful guide, it may be hard to do but it's necessary. I own a goat farm and used to not disbud my goats, one day I couldn't find one of the mother goats, when I did find her she was dead with one of her horns hooked on the fence, I looked up what had happened online and found multiple stories where the same thing had happened and the cause they said, was goats struggling so much trying to get off the fence, that they break their necks. I now disbud every goat when the time comes.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

So sorry about your doe! That must have been awful! It is my least favorite thing to do but it's for everyone's good.

[@mikbe2579]

How long does this last and at what intervals does the therapy need to be repeated?

[@peninsulamike]

I am new to goats, I have chickens and ducks, I have slaughtered a few broilers. But this would be hard for me, but I will do it. Just a few questions, will this guarantee no horns will grow? And will hair eventually grow over the area that was debudded?

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

This should prevent horns from growing. Occasionally you will get spurs if you miss a spot. Bucks more than does. The hair does grow back around the site and you won't really see it.

[@ldy.darkhorse9800]

+peninsulamike You can go back later and touch up if you start to see some scur growth. You want to be sure you get a good copper ring.. I also knock the caps (little lumps in the center) off with the iron. (4-H Leader & Registered Pygmy Breeder)

[@ldy.darkhorse9800]

Mikfinity Please get educated on a subject before commenting on something you have no idea about.

[@angelus3605]

You fast forwarded through the whole thing???

[@HumbleLittleHomestead]

Great video! We're disbudding today.... its the worst part about owning goats. Even though I've done it in the past I always like to watch a few videos beforehand so I can be refreshed on how to do it.

[@charmaneshuping]

One thing I would add to the video is a cdt shot and pain killer plus how to watch for infection. There are several good disbudding videos but they fail to mention tetanus shots and pain meds

[@1mtstewart]

kid box, lidocaine, up off the floor and over head cord spring holder will all aid you and the kids in a stressfree day! good luck!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+1mtstewart We will be building a kid box for the next round. Didn't see the need for just one. :)

[@1mtstewart]

+MyHomesteadingProject thank you for the video and the effort in making the process as pain free, stress free and simple as possible. who knows what pain another feels? we are all related and connected. namaste

[@oscar-gaming597]

OMG!!! I can’t do this. Can I just keep her horns trimmed?? Like hooves? The lady I bought my female pygmy goat from didn’t even mention that goats had to be de-horned. Neither did the woman who sold me my male today! They are both around 12 or so weeks. Is it too late? The pygmy has some buds sticking out and the other one (have no idea what kind he is...I assumed pygmy but I guess it could be just a goat) has some pretty long ones, although he seems much younger than my 12 week pygmy). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@Friskifunny]

I know I’m late but it’s better that if they’re a month old, better to leave them be

[@PatienceHillBerardi]

Oh this makes me so sad. I understand why it's done, it's just upsetting to watch it hurt... Must have been terrible to have to be the one who did it! If I ever decide I want to get goats, this will have to be on my pro vs con list.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Patience Hill-Berardi So far it is my least favorite thing to do on the farm! Really, I hated it but it had to be done. As soon as I let her go though she was running and playing like nothing happened. I think that it took me longer to recover than it took her!

[@thegoodlife1238]

@@MikfinityPog actually if you want to show your goats, it's a requirement

[@thegoodlife1238]

@@MikfinityPog I would rather be head butted by a debudded goat than a horned goat

[@MikfinityPog]

@@thegoodlife1238 Never heard of people ''showing goats,'' can you explain?

[@thegoodlife1238]

@@MikfinityPog sure. Like with other purebred animals, goats have shows to compete (like a dog show)

[@user-oh2hl5eq6c]

All mighty has given them horns for a purpose.

[@rubygray7749]

To make shofars from.

[@eadecamp]

He also gave us wisdom teeth that usually get removed. What's your point?

[@xilleepolse2811]

No case for the goat?

[@carlosochoa1633]

Great job never did this or plan too i love it when my baby goats flourish their horns as adults they look majestic but good job on debuding👌 us mexicans do not typically do that lol you mess with the goat you get the horns

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Around here most people don't want horns and it can make it harder to sell them. Dairy goat associations will not let you show them with horns as well. For us it is a safety issue for them as well as us. Besides, I have had a couple get stuck in fences without horns. I can't imagine how it would be with horns! :)

[@lounesouadfeul7118]

لماذا هذا العمل و ما فائدته ؟ شكرا على الرد إن امكن

[@user-uw1sn7gn4i]

So am ask Is thise ion use for an elctronics Soory to my lancuge

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

محمد الحسين No. It is a special disbudding iron. You can purchase them online or from various farm supply catalogs.

[@arotaruus3253]

For all the uninformed city people.....dehorning is a very humane process, I applaud this lady, she did it all right. You know what is really inhuman, watching when goats get their horns stuck on fences and suffering. When a goat gets its horn stuck on a fence, you have a bigger situation in your hands. I dehorn my all of my goats, and I do not regret it. As long as the are properly sedated, then you are fine. I give a round of applause 👏 to you.

[@goathead5073]

Not all of us are "uninformed" city people. Goats need their horns for basic defense. For example, I am personally against debudding goat kids (for religious reasons), and there are plenty of ranchers who don't believe in debudding for many reasons, including some of the ones listed above.

[@led_farmer]

I disagree... I have 26 goats with horns and 6 that are disbudded. I have 1 baby goat it gets her head stuck in the fence 3 or 4 times a day and just sits on her knees and waits for me to help her out. after 2 weeks she doesn't get her head stuck in the fence. It took me longer to train my Dogs how to rollover.. as far as the disbudded goats they destroy my fence by sticking their heads through it and pushing... my 8 pack goats with 2 ft long horns never stick their heads to the fence ever because their horns are too big... never had an issue with them... just upgraded all fencing to electrical now no issues... I think upgrading your fencing is it better idea than dis budding... just my $0.02

[@Angelica-lp2yk]

"As long as the are properly sedated, then you are fine. " .....the goat in the video is clearly not sedated. smh

[@jeepz669]

Holy shit 🐐

[@CarolinaGirlCreationZ]

Can this not be done under anethsia?

[@naomicole1389]

Anesthetic makes it more difficult to know if it is correct and can lead to scurs/spurs/false horns, to say nothing of the risk of brain damage to a 3-7 day old kid.

[@bahromhushorov3882]

Very professional job👍 Thanks for great video Plz keep it up

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Thank you.

[@KidsPlanetTV]

Cool video

[@ViviansDIYProjects]

Hubby built a disbudding box to hold the kids in place. We had 6 kids to do 4 years ago. It was very traumatic to us that we didn't disbud any more. Now we've got issues with the horned does and will disbud next year. I hate it but having had close calls, I see the need for it.

[@ViviansDIYProjects]

VivianRinSC Information on when to disbud was wrong. Some breeds like Alpines need to be done in 2-3 days of birth. Waiting longer will end in failed disbudding and the goats will have weird horns that often break with much bleeding. Since our stock have some Alpine in them, we will be checking daily for any sign of the horn. First sign of horn bump and it's time to disbud.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Since I only had one to do I didn't bother building a box. I will be building one before next spring when I will have several to do. I really hate the task though. Out of everything I have done so far it is still my least favorite thing!

[@ViviansDIYProjects]

MyHomesteadingProject I feel the same way. I'd forgotten how they sounded during the process. Your video brought back some memories.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

VivianRinSC Agreed!

[@BelindaTN]

+VivianRinSC As hard as this is, it is much worse if you have to de horn when they are grown. Also, goats will yell anytime you do something that stresses them. Catch one with a rope that has never been caught and you will see what I mean. anyway, it is hard to tell how much pain they are feeling by their cries. I have no doubt, this is painful to some extent. But it is necessary.

[@annajeske8076]

Wow, you did that sooo smoothly! I am hoping my disbudding goes just as smooth! Great video :-)

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Anna Jeske Although it's not hard it's not fun either. I just try to get it done as quickly as possible. Get a good iron and it will go easier. You can do it! :)

[@annajeske8076]

My vet has done it for me previous years (he only charges $10 a kid, which was great because i didnt have to do it ;-) )but the last time they did it, I had to take all of the kids back in and have them re-done.... which ended up surgery on one of the bucks and just a huge mess. I have a great vet but some of his people are afraid to hold it on to ling and then they don't get a good burn. In a few weeks I'm expecting kids from 3 of my does and figured its a good time to learn disbudding. What brand iron did you say that was? And what age do you do your? Do you have to do a "figure 8" on the bucks? (I've heard people say about doing a figure 8)..... do you ever have any issues with scurs? Thanks sooo much for all the info :-)

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Anna Jeske I use the Rhinehart x30. Let it get hot enough to glow and it will go really fast. I disbud within a few days. The day I feel the slightest bump I disbud. This is the first year that I have done bucklings but I did do the 8 on them. When I bought my buck he had been done with an o and he has large scurs. If you start to feel a scur forming while they are still young you can do it again. It's all a learning curve. I'm sure you will do fine. It will get easier each time you do it. :)

[@heyymannnnnnn]

Local anesthetics before and/or pain relief after procedure are highly recommended. A lot of animals don't exhibit pain like humans do especially prey animals. There are studies showing that it is a painful process that lasts couple hours, but it's ultimately up to owners what they want to do.

[@Firstfalconfree]

Most anesthetics (including lidocaine) are dangerous for goats. Even vets have to be very, very careful with them.

[@Fidg234]

I know this needed to be done but check out the box Weed Them and Reap used to stabalize their goats which would be better for you and the goats.

[@naomicole1389]

Boxes are too traumatizing and it's far too easy to loose control and burn their ear, eye, face, you. Do it when they are 3-6days old (boys sooner, girls normally need a few more days {for our alpines, other breeds may vary by a day or two}), tuck them under your arm like a football, hold their nose in your non-dominant hand, and a quick 10 or so seconds per side and you're done. The holding is ESSENTIAL as it compress their central nervous system and helps them stay calm, no box can hold them right. You can even bundle the kid in a towel for extra comfort but if you've done it for a while you can get to know how to hold them and make it that much faster.

[@AndreaS-oq7sw]

Nope nope and nope. The vet will be disbudding my goats....

[@naomicole1389]

I'd recommend a fellow farmer and not a vet. No insult to vets but unless they do a lot of goats they don't have the experience a farmer does. Also if they are done under a general anaesthetic it's very easy to not do it enough and cause scurs/spurs/false horns.

[@AndreaS-oq7sw]

@@naomicole1389 no one around here dies this to their goats.

[@eadecamp]

You might want to invest in a disbudding box if you are going to disbud often.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Agreed! I keep planning on making one but have not gotten around to it. It’s on my list. 😆

[@direwolfgirl7614]

you did a good job for your first time

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Direwolfgirl Thank you. As I said, it is not my favorite task but at least I know that I can do it now.

[@daya345]

Sick

[@led_farmer]

I prefer My Goats with horns. I have 6 goats that are dis budded and 24 that are Natural... I have way more issues with the disbudded goats from scurs to destroying fence to injuries and for me harder to handle... just my $.02

[@dontusedead5525]

Really? You got one feisty goat then, typically DeBudding reduces injuries to the goat caused by fences

[@eadecamp]

Disbudding should be left up to the owner.

[@MrSpuddy10]

Ok the video movements and focusing was horrible. I didn't even get good visuals on what the ring looked like at the end.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+alex dejesu Sorry. It was one of my earlier videos and my son was the camera man.

[@brendanyazzie2774]

notice how the goat doesnt continue to be in pain immediately after finishing disbudding, and yet all these weirdos saying they would put a hot iron on a humans skin as revenge for burning horns that has no nervs in them? okay people🙂

[@elainamitchell6828]

What does the fact that it doesn’t hurt afterwards have to do with anything? Tattoos don’t hurt after they’re done, they only really hurt while you’re getting them put on. I’m sure branding works similarly, it probably hurts much worse while being branded than it does afterwards. Also, horns do have nerves in them. I’m definitely not saying these people should be branded, but you should be a little more informed.

[@eadecamp]

These hysterical criers need to grow the hell up and stop calling the slightest bit of pain or discomfort "cruelty" . It's part of living on this dirt clod.

[@dontusedead5525]

@@elainamitchell6828 have you ever had a tattoo? Go get one and slap it 6 hours later tell me it doesn't still hurt

[@eadecamp]

@@MikfinityPog I respectfully disagree. Nobody would argue that a goat in the wild needs its horns, but dehorning should be left up to the individual owner. I've never personally heard of a goat getting stuck in a fence, but I have seen the damage goats with horns can inflict on people and property when they butt for no apparent reason other than butting looks like a reflex that a goat will do with or without its horns.

[@brendanyazzie2774]

@@elainamitchell6828 youre comparing a tattoo to disbudding by the way, i wasnt sure if you knew that or just plain dumb. skin is not the same as a horn😂

[@TwoOneOScrapping]

What's the point of this? All but one of my goats have horns don't see how that is a problem they were naturally made that way. They don't seem to hurt each other much when butting. Why not just buy goats that are polled?

[@naomicole1389]

My neighbour said the same until his two best goats were playing and got their locked horns locked together and strangled themselves before he could get to them. Domesticated goats don't need horns for protection, we need to protect our domesticated animals and ourselves. It's 20seconds of pain for peace of mind for you, your family, and your farm.

[@32howlingwolves40]

poor little goat I know that hurt

[@oliviap7846]

32howling Wolves I doesn't actually hurt the goat. The restriction of movement scares them. But in no way does it hurt.

[@zanna2679]

Olivia P how do you know your not the goat

[@justceexo2145]

Olivia P your not the goat tho

[@brendanyazzie2774]

"yOuRe NoT tHe GoAt" shutup, horns have no nerves in them idiots, an elk could break their antlers off on accident and wouldnt feel a thing, the goat was never in any pain because once she lets go of the iron and the goats head it stops complaining immediately, if the burning did hurt them the goat would continue to scream in pain

[@justceexo2145]

Peta your not even peta

[@suzienell8110]

blurry up close shots.... many others showing similiar, I think what we're looking for is up close

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Suzie Nell I apologize for the blurry bits. It was one of my earliest videos. My son was the camera man and was not familiar with the camera.

[@suzielittle]

I appreciate you posting this - we have toggs and noticed 'nubs' developing although we got 'copper rings.' We've been searching videos how to do this 'right' and discovered it isn't a 'copper ring' its the 'white ring' going down to the cartilage.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Certain breeds are harder than others too. Toggs can be harder from what I understand. Alpines are to. It seems like I keep having a couple that get scurs no matter how good I think I got it. Had to re-burn a couple. I may go with a larger tip next year and see if that helps.

[@johnmckeag1048]

The video is well thought out and the pacing is good. The camera work is beyond horrible

[@ashleycarter4155]

i like how she says shhh when shes burning off a goats horns why dont we do it to you and tell you to shhh

[@fetacheest7421]

Ashley Carter many people disbud goats for very important reasons. The iron doesn't hurt the goat in any way, once it touches the skin, it instantly numbs it. The goat was screaming because of the restriction in movement.

[@brianan.bergman7493]

Ashley Carter omg bruh I was thinking the same thing

[@yrbpdgf]

Briana N. Bergman no

[@yrbpdgf]

Kalar Hall don't do that because it stops it from getting killed if no horns perfectly fine if there are horns more likely chance of getting challenged and killed

[@cheetahlover6289]

LIKE IT'LL INSTANTLY NUMB IT YEAH RIGHT

[@Rambo_-np7ui]

its fucked up no matter what

[@oliviawilder1291]

I needed to watch this to understand the process. Honey this is cruel. I do not care about the reasoning do not take a machine that is 900 degrees that close to anything. Especially not to an animals head

[@katiebuffington9102]

You don't anesthetize the animal first? Damn!

[@jae2847]

It's not necessary

[@dontusedead5525]

It may be painful then, but frankly the pain goes away very quickly and again, frankly, once its over the goats don't really care

[@pglp406]

Am I the only one that finds the goat’s screams funny?

[@adorbsniya8727]

It yelled NOOOO

[@beverlyh5146]

Poor thing

[@moonxbloom8881]

have some shame. imagine someone doing that to you. seeing him in pain and yet your cold heart does not melt. shame shame shame on you I bet the baby goat cursed you for good

[@zmountaindrewz2684]

They do this so the goat doesn’t accidentally disembowel another goat or animal when the horns are grown. So.. I think it’s safe to do this rather than having a dead animal.

[@user-sv3wc2kb3t]

هذه من أساليب وطرق تعذيب تعذيب تعذيب تعذيب للحيوان المسكين والله حرام

[@laitulip5026]

JESUS IS KING

[@laitulip5026]

👑

[@casualfridays4051]

monster

[@eliotreany5845]

MoNstEr

[@JamieR1988]

This is horrific. They're meant to have horns. Nothing gives you the right to do this. Also, there isn't any real advantage gained by doing this!! It's cruel and barbaric. You also take gallons of milk off these animals, you could at least leave them to grow naturally!!

[@scarfydog8684]

Jamie Reid you are a fucking idiot

[@thewizishere]

Says the person who hasn't gotten multiple goats out of dangerous situations at least once a week, or had a goats killed by a coyote while stuck. Fuck off

[@kiimerle5513]

Bullshit that didn't hurt.... The goat was fine until that blistering hot iron hits the damn bud... This is disgusting....poor thing.. Don't anyone tell me it's the "restriction" of movement is what the goat was screaming about... Good lord

[@beauwilliams5584]

It may hurt for them but it's necessary, their horns very well may get caught on a fence, one of my mother goats broke her neck and died because her horns were caught on the fence and she struggled so much that she died, her kids then had to live with a different mother. I now disbud all of my goats.

[@ernesta5459]

U don't like it. Don't fkn watch

[@ruthweaver9728]

It had to be the best way of the best way for them.

[@Apyramidfrfr]

@@beauwilliams5584 why are they born that way then dumb fuck! These animals have horns for a reason.

[@hayburnerjalopy8532]

If I had horns that kept getting stuck in fences or were poking holes in my friends, I would have them burned off. I would prefer being sedated with a few cubic centimeters of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride though. You're right Kii Merie... disbudding without sedation does cause pain. Maybe it's expensive to have the goat sedated for the procedure... IDK... I would fork out the extra money.

[@janewilliams99]

You should use a cornual nerve block; it is inhumane without that. And one mg/kg meloxicam.

[@NikkieRoxxx]

NOT needed for anything if only you get off of it. HOw about a little pain reducing measures? oh they'd cost more than that, what was it, 8$? SCANDAL.

[@natedogg302]

Camera man needs some work...

[@kaboommushroomhead]

Ridiculous 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ibnehasanmalik6921]

Bhikhari bell

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

That is so dam crule...no wonder the other channles dont shot it...all there fans eould leave if they knew the truth...all this needless pain and suffering just so humans can drink milk intended for baby goates.

[@dannyangel117]

Poor quality either camera or camera person very difficult to see

[@mrtootsie250]

Danny Angel , you camera man acted like a wouse (sp)

[@cb5117]

Everyone involved in this video exemplifies overt hypocrisy, are wildly non transparent , and deceitful pseudologists. Pray tell, why edit out the actual debudding itself? It’s rhetorical, as this process is indescribably painful for the kids, and the agonizing screams (which you edited out) are horrifying to see and hear. The channel owners were very conscious of the potential to lose subscribers/$ if they viewed with their own eyes how brutally abusive this “procedure/torture” actually is on these baby goats.

[@blue_cameron]

Tf is wrong with people

[@GreenTGoats]

Disbudding is a necessary part of goat ownership - goats with horns get stuck in fences and hay feeder, hook other goats by the legs or collar (often killing or injuring them), don't fit in regular stanchions, and can accidentally harm the humans that interact with them. It's much easier to disbud while they are young than to deal with the heartache of having horned goats later on. It only hurts them few a few moments, the iron quickly burns the nerves around the bud.

[@booooooooooo32]

Snipethemapples I would never cause pain on an animal. I'm a huge animal lover but if I had it back I would have had my pet pigmy dehorned. I love her horns but now she is walking around with one because she got caught in a fence and broke hers off right to the base of her head.This procedure would have prevented that but now she is in terrible pain. Dehorning is a lot less painful than ripping or breaking there horns off later.

[@antonskippy5376]

Nothing more ridiculous than a person trying to teach others to do something she herself has never done. Perfect idiocy.

[@oliviap7846]

Anton Skippy it's no more painful then a needle shot. They yell because of a restriction of movement. Not because it hurts.

[@antonskippy5376]

+Olivia P: I, too, understand the disbudding process is no more painful than an intramuscular injection. I have no concerns about the animals' welfare. At the risk of sounding callus, I consider livestock a commodity. The issue I take with the presenter of this video derives of the temerity inherent her presenting obvious ineptitude as expertise. The advent of KZbin has encouraged countless hobbyists and amateurs to leap at the opportunity to fraudulently present themselves as professionals. Their conspicuous incompetence doesn't dissuade them one bit. Nor does the probability of accident or injury arising from viewers heeding the erroneous data and instruction they consistently dispense.

[@GratefulDiver]

And you offer what? Nothing but caustic commentary it seems.

[@antonskippy5376]

+Norm Allen: An opinion is what I offer. Comment forums exist for the sole purpose of chronicling opinions. If you don't like my opinion, refute it. Make an argument. Or do you have a problem with freedom of speech? In any case, your opening move paints you as an interloping, disorganized, dumbfuck. I don't imagine you feel one way or another about the video's content.

[@GratefulDiver]

Correct, I don't have feelings for it one way or another. I'm a reasonable person who takes all information, good and bad and extracts a use from it. Not someone who throws a hissy fit if it doesn't fit into the mold that I find palatable. Did these people make mistakes? Absolutely! Did they present themselves as seasoned professionals in an effort to trigger an extremely small, specific segment of the population? Perhaps I missed that part but maybe so. Let me rephrase my original response for you since points are not your strong suit: Please, share your expert knowledge on disbudding via a video response instead of this tripe.

[@nwight11]

CRUEL!!!!!

[@fetacheest7421]

Olivia Kitty the iron is so hot, it numbs the skin surface instantly. The goats are crying because they don't like the restriction in movement. Many people disbud their kids at an early age for a good reason. This didn't actually hurt for the goat, no one has to worry about the goat :)

[@led_farmer]

I wouldn't call it cruel ... I call it unnecessary.