how to DEHORN, CASTRATE, & TAG Dexter calves

[@WhereMyChicken]

I will NEVER complain about having a bad day again.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

LOL!!

[@mandyking4395]

O

[@mandyking4395]

O

[@patricklaurojr7427]

Man u ain't kidding dam

[@sortodawy]

😁

[@jimamccracken5783]

Pete, I admire your honesty treating young calves is far better than waiting past 3 months.

[@JaydLawrence]

Thank you so much for showing the detailed steps. Most people would chicken out of showing it. But it is so important that people see what is involved if they are going to do it themselves.

[@littlegreycloud]

Pete, I know this is an older video but wanted to thank you for it. Today I successfully castrated my first dexter calf and I learned all I needed from this video. Watched it 4 or 5 times. Thanks for the great information!

[@katelyndahlin1086]

how was the calf after? thinking of using this method on my new bull calf.

[@littlegreycloud]

@@katelyndahlin1086 no issues. All good.

[@annashepard6337]

This makes being thankful for our food much more apparent.

[@garrettcarlson4071]

This looks to be the most humane and tolerable options for the calf when it comes to dehorning and castration. I agree with doing it as young as possible, too.

[@SergioGarcia-cn2kd]

You are a very sick individual.

[@amyfu2047]

Every plant and animal on this planet was put here for our use. This is actually how we are meant to live... Raising our own animals, growing our own crops, etc. This fine farmer said he does it because it's necessary. If you wAnt to provide him with money etc to live, great! I'm sure he'll give up raising meat animals. Otherwise please keep your opinion to yourself. Did you know in order for food to be grown, no animals can live in the same area? That means in order to grow your lettuce, first all the trees in an area need to be cleared. Good riddance birds. Then they destroy any ground squirrels rabbits gophers etc living there. Then they will and fertilize and plant your gmo crops that kill the bees that pollinate them because glyphosate, but at least you get your baby spinach. Vegans are responsible for the deaths of thousands of animals every year. They're murdered to keep them off your lettuce. Stop preaching at people making an honest living and actually helping the environment.

[@SergioGarcia-cn2kd]

@@amyfu2047 How is it 'necessary' to do this when we know we can be perfectly healthy on a plant based diet? When your 'opinion' involves abusing and exploiting animals, don't be surprised when others come at you. Just like if someone had the opinion 'child abuse is ethical', you'd probably go at them. This is the crucial point you are forgetting; Over 70% of the crops we currently grow go to feed animals, NOT humans, so if you really wanted to reduce insect/rodent deaths, then you should stop eating animals. A meat diet requires around 10 times more crops, due to the crops used to raise livestock. Crop deaths obviously still do happen, but not anywhere near as much as you would think. Compare this against the fact that 2 billion animals are murdered every single week, intentionally. A certain amount of accidental deaths have to happen in order for society to function. For example, we don’t avoid driving because there is a chance of accidental deaths. But what you’re basically saying is that accidental deaths happen on the road, therefore intentionally running people over is also fine. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, habitat destruction and wildlife loss. Mainly because of the amount of land we have to clear in order to graze the 70 billion livestock animals we have on the planet. And the space we need to grow food for them all. Look at all the baron lifeless fields around you! Pretty much all for animal agriculture. Finally, I grow tonnes of food myself, never had to kill one animal, and my farm is a lot healthier than most farms I've seen!

[@maureenpleitez1022]

I have an honest question, is there any other way to do the castration? I just find it hard that the calf is awake during this process.

[@SergioGarcia-cn2kd]

@@maureenpleitez1022 How about just not do it at all. Are you people this evil? It's time to stop killing, mutilating and exploiting animals.

[@mcchupka9718]

Thanks Pete and Hillary. It not an easy think to do but absolutely necessary. I agree with you that its best to get all three over with by day 3 so it is less traumatic in the long run.

[@or529]

Maybe now the next time we order steak we'll all remember what it took to get that steak onto our plates. Much respect & hopefully more support for the work you do. FARMING & RANCHING.

[@foxwonderland8467]

Thank you for being so caring about the pain level and comfort of the little ones in your care. Big heart you have🙏❤️🙏

[@Terquila]

I loved how you took me through every step...with wats recommended by trained personnel..... and also appreciate the reason for every practice .it gives me a wider range of knowledge.

[@Acestes.]

I'm a city boy and oh boy! seeing the castration process just made me hurt! I really can't judge because I know this is a process to just about anything. I'm glad you've taken all consideration when doing that procedure. I'm never getting a vasectomy. lol

[@jaspertorres6698]

Do you not know how a vasectomy works or are you just joking lmao. Your testicles aren’t removed in that procedure and there is a high success’s rate in reversing them within the first 10 years of it being done

[@foxonthefarm7260]

We DID it! First time castrating and it went really well. Thank you so much Pete and Hillary!

[@crupert23225]

Man that was BRUTAL. Sure wouldn't want a day like that!

[@larrymoore6640]

I'm glad you made this video and showed the steps involved. I believe your right about when to do this procedure. Your calves and the herd are lucky that you care so much about them.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Larry!

[@deanbenedict707]

Did any other guy watching this also unconsciously close their legs? Lol.

[@wheelgun5102]

Dean Benedict YES!!!!

[@hannahspencer2830]

We’ve always just banded our bull calves, and my family has been doing it that way for about 75 years with no complications. That’s just the way we like to do it, but it was really cool to see this method used, as I’ve never actually had a visual of it being done before. Thanks for this video, it was very interesting and informative!

[@Holly-hl1vm]

Thank you for the detailed castration video. Watching all the steps taken by a successful small farm husband and wife team has been truly educational.

[@edmclaughlin4923]

Thanks Pete. I know you took a little static for this video, I'm sure. I appreciate knowing everything that goes into taking care of animals on a farm.

[@thickymcghee7681]

I learn so much by watching these videos, and also I gain more respect for the protein on my plate and the farmer who put it there.

[@bradr8717]

Added benefit, Rocky Mtn oysters. I remember the first time I helped an uncle castrate calves, at about 5 months. He popped them off and without warning handed them to me, saying, dinner. If prepared correctly, deveined and pounded flat, then breaded and fried, they have a good flavor and the consistency of chicken fried steak.

[@AdamPlayFarms]

Amazing mama let you drop her calf. I grew up on a dairy farm. I remember picking up calves in the pasture when I was around 12 with mama breathing down my neck the whole way to the barn.

[@devinmanderson]

Ya not as a bad as rank desert cattle man you try and take their babies they gonna run you down and teach you something. Its always funny when it's the new guy and he doesnt realise what's about to happen. Quick feet quick feet 😂😂😂

[@hollienguyen5222]

I don't know if I would have the heart or nerve to perform those necessary tasks. Thank you for another tactful and informative video.

[@EsotericTucker]

You think that’s bad? Try being on the... rear end of artificial insemination.

[@Grannpappi.]

I have cattle and I tried to do all 3. Ended up doing only 1 out of the 3. Wayyyyyy tougher than it looks.

[@Japanesevideogamesdotcom]

Why are they necessary?

[@rosemarywatson]

I just stopped eating steer/heifer/veal because I couldn't in all honesty do this work my grandfather did for a living.

[@billcarney184]

Thank you for making this video. We've just got our first small dexter herd and have 5 calves that we need to do this with. I think I will call the vet to help me. Really tough thing to do but you have to do it for the animals and your safety. One of those parts of farming that folks don't think about much but are very real to the farmer! (and obviously the poor calves)

[@mariad4183]

I'm a citygirl and can see how gentle you are good job team!

[@User-bl5cw]

He literally cut his scrotum open with scissors and ripped out his testicles. Are you on fucking crack?

[@geoffmayer5201]

Pete....thanks for giving us the step-by-step on the dehorning and castration procedure. Very helpful. Really appreciate the depth of your explanations. Thanks.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

You're welcome Geoff!

[@tomclark9142]

As usual, just a superb video FILLED with stuff a City Boy like me just never knew. BRAVO!

[@2012misspennvalley]

That was the nicest castration I've ever seen! Completely sold!

[@brittanylarge9958]

Friends of ours acquired a bull who was banded. Turns out, one of his testicles didn't castrate. He was a NASTY piece of work on dispatch day and nearly knocked a trailer over. The method you use is thorough! No point in the trauma of the ordeal if the intended results aren't achieved.

[@knoxpoole3276]

Hey Pete, thanks for all the effort you put into these videos. I was raised in the city and am aspiring to own my own small farm one day (likely cattle, chickens, goats). This info is invaluable… I can’t stop watching your videos! You have a new subscriber right here 💪🏻

[@ssmouse77]

I never knew or thought twice of these things. Now I seen it and know it. Makes me appreciate the farming process.

[@shikhasingh8258]

Respect for your work ..eye opening ..also you n your team is loving n respectful to all the cattle’s n other livestock ...I feel relieved

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Kudos to you for tackling a topic most would shy away from, but I bet you help some other farmers/homesteaders with this video! Excellent job!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thank you Belding Hill Farms! I admit I was nervous about putting this one up, but it’s part of what we do.

[@farrierette5216]

I am glad you numb the horn buds. Most dairy farms are brutal to the calves and use nothing for pain.

[@robertoayala9203]

Love it. Great job. I used to work on a ranch when I was young. Brings back some great memories.

[@swarajyasehajpal2658]

Just the right thing to do,these unavoidable procedures on a calf are better and best done as early in calf’s life as possible and practical. Healing will be fast in these early days. And the trauma and the stress is soon forgotten by fast growing bull as a thing of the past, never to recur in the rest of his life. Doing it yourself has the advantage of keeping you well practiced and deft at it. No one else can do it more feelingly for your own animal. Pretty cool 😎

[@mattcrowell7945]

Good video and good explanation. I feel that you have chosen the lowest stress and best metgod for the cattle. This is much more humane than the way we did it when i was going up! We used to wait until fall when fly season was over and cut the horns out with a scoop cutter then pull leaking blood vessels with needle nose pliers. It was gruesome and traumatic. When I started on my own I chose to raise polled cattle so I didn't have to go through this.

[@fxdelusions77]

I’ve always been stuck in the big city, and have been fascinated farm life. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

[@melvinwoodruff905]

Thanks for your direct approach to getting the job done

[@manycallmemom8406]

Thanks for the video Pete! I castrated my first bull calf yesterday by learning from you!! Absolutely textbook!❤

[@myyoutube7144]

Out of curiosity, why does mom have horns? None of the others do.

[@awesometaylor5881]

❤🎉Thankyou so very much for all the wisdom and Knowledge.

[@dejagter]

Always found that an immobilizer + bidizzo for two minutes and propane dehorning tool worked well. Little guys usually get up and don't really know what happened. Guessing you've had issues with a bidizzo in the past? Nice to see you guys are living like we all still should Pete, living the dream.

[@markprior6009]

I love this channel so much. Everything is just so interesting and educational. Keep up the fantastic content to keep me in 🇬🇧 the UK entertained 👍🏼

[@mikerhodes3563]

On my grandfathers farmstead down Bayou DuLarge Louisiana -he didn’t bother with castration for dehorning -his herd was usually about one bull and 6 or 7 milk cows-with 13 children they needed a lot of milk -we would slaughter them on the farm-later in the early 60s we would just call the slaughter house and they would send a trailer for the calves he wanted to slaughter-as kids grew up and had their own families it was like a celebration when a calf was slaughtered -always in late fall -good times on the bayou

[@luckyequestrian]

I love that you numb them for dehorning

[@anneschwan4178]

Thank you for that, wish I had pressed in for my late husband to do this castrating business but he didn't have nerves for that kinda work. Now I have one bull calf that is a few weeks old,

[@anneschwan4178]

And no one to help. Hoping the rest are heifers!

[@davidrobertson376]

Great job Pete and Hillary, I also caught our calves only two or three days after birth to tag and castrate, I used elastrator rings and the procedure was over very quickly and having polled cattle there was no dehorning and all done in the paddock while keeping a close eye on mum. I aggree cutting a bull calf is generally the best option especially if they are larger. Keep up your good work. Dave.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Dave! We used an elastrator on the farm when I was a kid. It's still hanging in my workshop.

[@waynejordan5746]

Pete I have been watching your videos for a while now and I am very interested in raising Dexter cattle for myself and also a few pigs. Your videos are very informative and I appreciate them.

[@theresamcpherson7352]

I'm learning so much from you two. Thank you!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

You're welcome Theresa!

[@Thataucowvettech]

Hey there, Wouldnt a Meloxicam 20 Injection be easier than tablets ? We use the injections rather than Tablets.

[@debracrew3261]

Well Pete im a vegetarian, BUT no wait for it i think you treat your animals lovely they seem to have a nice life from beginning to end. D from the UK.

[@briansmyla8696]

Couple of questions. First, I've seen videos where the farms use a paste that inhibits horn growth. To me, that seems less traumatic both for the animal and the farmer. Are you aware of this method? If so, why did you choose the burning method over the paste? Second, why does the featured calf's mom have horns?

[@jake3768]

Jesus that castration was serious, not enough to put me off my steak but Jesus, my ikea scissors wouldn't be upto the job

[@mmodnao]

You sound terrified! Can’t blame you, I was too.

[@jasmine-rojas]

Why are some cattle allowed to keep their horns? Mom had her horns.

[@the.Gremlin]

They mentioned in a few videos that those are cattle that they got (I believe) in the first few years of the farm and they already had horns.

[@dranchatclearwater6193]

Really like this video. I have sheep and goats and use dehorning paste and bands. With cattle, I can see the benefit of burning the buds and cutting the sac. Thank you for the great information!!!

[@catherinehubbard1167]

Excellent video, and I can see how carefully you made each decision in the procedure. What do you do for undescended testicles? One of the advantages of the method you use is that you will know if there is one.

[@FightingGravity2071]

Thanks for the video Pete. Can you explain why the mom has horns since you chose to de-horn. Also I thought heifers didn’t have horns, only bulls. Thanks again!

[@MoshiraMitano]

Don't presume its gender...maybe its trans ;)

[@jimlong527]

You be Happy just be able to keep farming . I remember being younger to collect caves in the fields the Guernsey breed Mother never gave up on protection of the baby.

[@PDFr0]

Thanks for showing the more gritty aspects of farm life, tough to watch but certainly insightful.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Patrick!

[@rogerwhite3644]

Welcome to the world little guy

[@johncgonzales4338]

What ever happened to the dehorn paste? But we used to use it on 60 to 100 calves a day. And do they still brand them?

[@justice007willprevail]

Exceptionally informative and thank you for offering to share your knowledge, God bless.

[@Frank-sq8ws]

I know this an old video but does anyone know the make and model of the electric dehorner used ? Looking to upgrade. Thanks

[@Raymond-mk8cb]

What happens to the rubber band that some people use? Do they decompose, or do you find them laying around the pasture? Can you recycle them to floss your teeth?

[@bendangwapang989]

After the testical is taken off,is is okay to keep the wound open without stitching?

[@davidignacio3009]

Out of curiosity, after dehorning and castrating the calf, was there any instance when the mother cow reject the calf? if so, what did you do?

[@boscosskillz2734]

No chance

[@chloeshann8142]

Nope

[@josephmcclure9529]

What if I just keep steers together? Does castration affect aggression that much or ok to just leave them intact then?

[@IronPriest82]

Hard video to watch. You’re a good man though, you can tell you don’t get any joy out of it. Thanks for sharing.

[@mitchp350]

Pete I find your videos very informative, and to the point, this one is no different. Always wondered about the de-horning, and now I know. Although I have seen castrations in videos a number of times, of various different methods. I don't think a guy can ever stop from the bending a bit and saying a few choice words, and saving his own from the same fake. Yes, even at close to 60 years old, i still cringe, even though they do not mean as much to me as they once did.. LOL Keep up the good videos Take care, and safe in these covid19 times. Mitch

[@stanleykeith6969]

Hey Pete, I felt that when you castrated that little guy,😵🥴😵‍💫🤕 WOW 🤣Pete why does his Mom 526 still have her horns? 🐮🐄 Great Video Pete.

[@David-fj5md]

I remenber helping my grandfather and uncle catch and castrate piglets when i was 10 or so years old. Very similar process.

[@dwcarrigan88]

Why are there still some with horns in your herd? Explain why not focus on polled traits to develop herd. Thanks for your informative vids!

[@donmcmaine9213]

That's a cow they bought to start the herd, came with horns. Dexters are a horned breed, he doesn't want crossbred calves

[@joeydalia2572]

Great video very educational, that’s the same way I castrate our piglets

[@GabrielsLogic]

Thanks for sharing the process pete, very informative

[@TheRogZone]

Does castration affect the taste of the meat or is this strictly about unwanted breeding?

[@Danielle33384]

Just prevents unwanted breeding

[@chloeshann8142]

It does affect the taste of the meat

[@patricklusk5237]

Also bulls can become aggressive as they get older, dangerous to people and can fight with and injure each other

[@dropbassnetwork]

i added this second bad day to my farm story as well vs the one bad day most cattle farmers talk about. it seems really bad, but like my vet pointed out to me the calves almost always come back to the head gate area after they are finished so it's probably not as traumatic as we think it is.

[@markthibault6551]

Super great info. Thanks Pete. And this is something I don’t believe any of us enjoy but is a necessary evil. I don’t sleep for a day or 2 after. As I worry about the calf

[@paoemantega8793]

Another excellent video dealing with a sensitive subject well done

[@Chiby]

Nice procedures like a pro, I think you’re a pro because you did it effortlessly I wish to own a yard as big as yours one day so I can rear cattle 🐄

[@rwnordmark]

Hi Pete. That was interesting but hard to watch. When I was 12 years old I helped my grandfather castrate a calf. He didn't tell me what he was doing I was pretty upset. I enjoy watching your videos.

[@johnhall6848]

Have you ever tried the dehorning creams? Do they work?

[@paulperrin2152]

If calls are not castrated does it effect flavor of the meat??,a friend of mine works with pigs and he says if not castrated it effects meat flavour

[@chloeshann8142]

Yes, it does... dramatically

[@davidsherman6398]

Is there a reason why the mom still had horns?

[@spatrk6634]

i think because it was a female. males are lot more agressive and you dont want your uncastrated bull with horns forcing the rest of the herd into submission, he would challenge other cows with horns and you want atleast one cow in the herd to have horns because its promoting higher status of the cow. it will be the herd leader so other cows will follow him/her around

[@edmondfin4252]

Does he not find the castration sore and when lying down would birds not peck where his horn buds would be

[@FFDfirechef]

Excellent information, look forward to starting my small herd in Missouri when I retire soon.

[@kibirigemusa3795]

After castration which best drug I can use to cure the wound

[@bl688]

I have cut alot of bulls in my life and have alot more yet to do hopefully... when I was young I held the tails and dad ran the knife or clamps...

[@DeeDee-dl7sl]

Curious as to why the Mom kept her horns?

[@POVINDIAbykundanjha]

Next life i want to be a part of your family!!!!❤️❤️ There is this EASE , HARMONY around you guys.

[@zanebryant4168]

You have taught me much since I subscribed sir! Keep on keeping on!

[@mokpot]

Thanks for another peek!

[@robertleigh559]

Wow! Fascinating and a super presentation. I call that a hard day's work and I wont bitch about the price of a steak from now on.

[@larry_melindagantner6800]

Thank you for the video. Does castrating so young decrease natural weight gain in the steer?

[@thaneforster3186]

very very very good video. please keep them coming

[@j.n.8153]

I laughed when I saw you chasing that calf while another was calf was going after you both.

[@bonsukan]

Hi Pete, Do you only dehorn bulls or do you also dehorn heifers? I noticed mom still had her horns. Dave

[@dogswithhorns]

cattle got it well 😂 disbudding and castrating goats is so much different. great video!!

[@cinnamonfamilybullies8869]

Hey I would like to say you are very inspiring to watch I have been watching a couple video and I must say you seem very smart looks like you have done your homework me and my boys are trying to catch up on the videos and in a few months may purchase our first tractor to get started we have 15.7 Acres here in Georgia how many head of the Dexter do you think would be a good start

[@40intrek]

Yowza!! Thanks for taking us threw this, but I have to ask, What does a procedure like this cost?

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

I don't know for sure; we've always done it ourselves.

[@donaldwallace7934]

@@userjeffe WOW! I can see why they do it themselves! That would add up in a hurry if you had a number of calves to do.

[@NonSensewithnosense]

Can any one tell me why he did castration? I really have no idea.

[@TylerGC]

I’m glad u guys made this video u care about ur animals so much obviously having ur balls cut off was painful to watch I couldn’t breathe😭🤣🤣🤣but atleast u guys do this when there very young and take the horns out early instead of cutting them off when there older this was so much nicer than any other one I’ve seen