Disbudding is every goat owner’s least favorite task. Disbudding is burning the horn buds at a very early age so that horns don’t grow. Dehorning is actually removing horns, and it is far more dangerous and traumatic. Meat and fiber goats, which are not handled that much, usually keep their horns. However, dairy goats are usually disbudded because they are handed twice a day for milking, making injury to humans with those horns more risky. My husband almost had a horn in his eye one day when picking up a horned goat, and I met a woman whose daughter’s eyelid was torn by a goat’s horn.
Horns can also be dangerous to the goats themselves. I originally had two horned pygoras and got rid of them after a couple of months because they were so brutal to my goats that didn’t have horns. The day that the wether hooked his horns under the belly of a pregnant doe and lifted her off the ground, I decided they had to go. Thankfully the doe was okay, but it felt like a matter of time before someone sustained a real injury. I have also had horned Shetland sheep, and several of them had problems because of their horns. One broke off a horn when he got it hooked behind a wooden fence. Another kept getting his horns caught in a woven wire fence, and one day the coyotes found him before we did. So, even though we don’t like it, we do disbud our goat kids for our safety, as well as theirs. Plus, I would be very upset if I ever sold a horned goat and later learned that someone had dehorned it, which leaves open wounds into the sinus cavity and can even cause death.
When I got goats in 2002, there were two options for disbudding goats — a disbudding iron or caustic paste, which is incorrectly named “dehorning paste.” Both burn the horn buds — one with extremely high heat and one with chemicals. The ingredients in the paste are calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, which is lye. Even though everyone said that the iron was the only real viable option for goats, being the curious person that I am, I wanted to try the paste. We had used it on a calf once, and it worked fine.
I had been told that paste should not be used on goats because too much will eat through the skull, too little won’t work, and goat kids have been known to rub their head on their dam’s udder, causing damage from the paste. There have also been horror stories of kids rubbing it into their eyes, causing blindness. (Having splattered lye into my eye about eight years ago, this seems especially horrifying to me now.)
Paste is commonly used on cattle. Since they have such a thick skull, no one worries about using too much. Before using it on a heifer, I sought the advice of my cattle mentor who told me to put a dab on each horn bud about the size of a quarter and put a piece of duct tape across her head, covering the horn buds, so that she couldn’t rub it off. That’s exactly what I did, and she didn’t seem the least bit bothered by it. I removed the tape a week later and saw pink skin where I had placed the paste.
Our first year with goats we took the kids to a vet to have him disbud. He gave them all an injection of something that just made them limp, so they couldn’t struggle, although they could still scream through the procedure. This is really not recommended, but I didn’t know better at the time. Looking back, the injection seemed pointless since the kids were still obviously in pain.
Caustic paste
The next year I decided to try the paste on goats. The instructions for goats say to leave it on for only 30 minutes. I figured that my husband and I could each hold a goat for 30 minutes so that they couldn’t rub it into their eyes or onto another goat while the paste did its magic. After a few minutes, the kids started to scream intermittently. They continued to scream for the rest of the time the paste was on their heads. When we removed the paste, there was only minimal damage to some of the skin covering the horn bud. It had not come anywhere close to destroying the horn bud. There was no way we were going to try again with more paste for another half hour.
Disbudding iron
After my negative experience with paste on goats, we bought a disbudding iron and have been using that method ever since. We had carefully watched the vet disbud seven kids the first year, so we copied what he had done. Whenever we sell goats we tell the new owners that we will be happy to disbud their first kids so they can learn how to do it.
Disbudding works great on does, assuming you use a large enough iron. Using a “goat tip” on all breeds of goats works best. The pygmy tip is too small to burn enough of the horn bud, even on small goats. Bucks frequently get scurs, which are tiny bits of horn growth around the edge of the horn bud. To avoid this, many goat owners will move the disbudding iron around to burn a larger area. I don’t recommend using a calf tip because that’s too large. That’s what the vet used on our first seven kids, and although six were fine, the upper eyelid on one kid was damaged because the iron came too close to the kid’s eye. I don’t know any goat owners who use a cattle tip, but we live in cattle country, so that’s the only disbudding iron the vet had, and I’m sure he thought he could control it well enough to avoid burning too much.
In all of my years online, I have only heard of one person burning through the skull of a goat kid, which is why I suggest only burning for a few seconds at a time. I cringe when I hear people say to hold the iron on the kid’s skull for ten seconds. Maybe that works for their iron, but it may be too long for an iron that gets hotter. We’ve disbudded hundreds of kids with zero fatalities or problems. When teaching people to disbud I say that you can always burn again for a few more seconds, but if you burn too long and go through the skull, you don’t get a second chance.
Clove oil
Injecting clove oil into the horn bud is a third option that popped up in a published study in 2015. After reading about the experiences of many people trying this, including some vets, I can’t bring myself to subject my goats to it. The process is simply too new and has not been studied enough to provide specific instructions. When people on social media argue about their success and failures, those for whom the procedure worked will nitpick the procedure followed by those whose efforts failed. Was the essential oil injected into the horn bud or under it? At what angle? How deep? Yet, the original study simply says, “In groups 1, 2 and 3, 0.2 mL of clove essence and in group 4 (Control) 0.2 mL of normal saline was injected into the left horn bud of goat kids.” It is important to note that failure does not simply mean that horns grew. In some cases it means that a kid died. If something as minuscule as depth or angle of injection can mean the difference between success and death, this is not a technique I want to try.
People will also argue about the purity of the essential oils used, yet all brands have had their successes and failures. People will then argue that a failure with a “good” oil involved a mistake in technique. Since most companies in this country don’t share their analysis of active ingredient reports, it is likely that strength of active ingredients varies from one batch to another, even within the same company. After all, no one is marketing their oil as a disbudding oil.
It is worth noting that in the original study, which was done in Iran, the researchers purchased cloves at the local market and distilled their own clove oil, which was then tested to determine the strength of the active ingredients. Since the researchers had one hundred percent success in stopping horn growth with clove oil, and they did not offer any specifics about injecting technique, angle, depth, and so on, the strength of their oil was probably stronger than what is typically available in this country.
Which technique is best?
I don’t usually make a specific recommendation on practices. It seems like my answer to just about every question is “it depends.” But in this case, there is only one proven option that has a long history of success in goats. If you want to stop horn growth, a disbudding iron is the safest option with the highest success rate.
brenda says
Thank you for your thoughts on this!
Dorinda Oakes says
Clove oil disbudding:
It worked as long as we injected clove oil every few days when we stopped the horns grew in. In the original study when they stopped the dehorned all the goats with a traditional iron so there is no way to know if it actually stopped the growth or if it delayed the growth like it did with our goats.
thriftyhomesteader says
In the study I linked to, they only injected once, and they followed the kids for 12 months. Photos of the kids’ heads are included in the study, so you can see there is no horn growth on the injected side, but they have a full horn on the other side. Are you thinking of the blogger who used clove oil on a couple of kids and then used an iron?
Edwina Rozelle says
Is there a specific brand of iron that find is easier for beginners to use?
thriftyhomesteader says
We’ve been using the Rhinehart X-30 for calf/goat (1/2 inch diameter) for 16 years and really like it. Do NOT get the pygmy tip, even if you have smaller goats. It does not burn a large enough area to stop horn growth. Even with the 1/2 inch iron, bucks have to burned twice in a figure 8 to get all of the horn bud.
Melissa says
I have Nigerian Dwarfs…would you still recommend 1/2 inch tips as opposed to 3/8? All of the websites selling Rhinehart states the 3/8 is the correct size for dwarf kids. Many thanks.
thriftyhomesteader says
Yes. I’ve seen really bad scurs on goats when people use those pygmy tips, even on doelings, which do not usually have scurs at all when done correctly. The 3/8″ tips are not big enough.
Nickki St.Denis says
Have you made a video on disbudding or can recommend a link where I can learn more on disbudding with an iron?
thriftyhomesteader says
Because of the negative response I got from my castration video, I won’t post a disbudding video publicly, but we do have five disbudding videos in my course, Just Kidding and Raising Kids, which will open for enrollment again in the fall.
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/join-waitlist-goat-birthing-course/
There are some videos on YouTube, but if you have a goat vet in your area, it’s a good idea to have him or her disbud your first kids, and you watch and ask questions so that you can do it in the future.
Allysa says
I’ve never done it and I can’t find anywhere around me that does it. Does anyone know who will do it in Pittsburgh PA area?
Jamie Charlson says
Hello, I am new to goats, and my babies are 6 weeks now… I’d that to old. Who I got them from was a dairy Farmer and I didn’t know I needed to do this so soon. My 4-H lady says it’s fine since their only about 1in and still wiggly. Please please any advice
thriftyhomesteader says
By then they already have little horns, so it not really disbudding any longer. Now you’re getting closer to dehorning. If your 4-H leader is more into cattle than goats, they think nothing of dehorning, but it’s not as easy or safe for goats. Cattle are much bigger and have thicker skulls. If these are going to be unregistered pets, you could just try to find a nice pet home for them and remember the lesson learned. If they are males that will be wethered and used for food, then there is no reason to disbud them.
Nicola Bessell says
I would never disbud a kid without them being sedated. In the UK it’s illegal for anyone other than a vet to perform the procedure. My kids are knocked out, disbudded with a.disbudding iron with absolutely no pain. The sedation is reversed and they come round absolutely fine. My vet has done thousands of kids and has only ever lost one that was small and sickly and done at only 3 days. It’s very safe are far more humane than doing it without anaesthetic. I started to watch a video online of it being done without anaesthetic and had to turn it off as it was so upsetting. Sedation is definitely far kinder for the kids.
Lisa RummelCVT says
Thankyou for writing that.
I’m a licensed vet tech and common layman owners should do right by their herds and have qualified veterinary personnel using proper analgesia and sedation for this procedure.
Livestock laws vary and just because owners indicate they’ve been doing it for years that way doesn’t make it ethical and proper in my book. Certain things are not to be done by common folk. If you’re going to be a responsible farmer. Consult proper veterinary teams. Or don’t handle animals..
Rochelle E Alberti says
Have you heard of banding the buds to disbud? I’ve heard of it..but not tried it. Our does are all naturally polled and our little cryptorchid male we left horned….we worked with him since birth and his horns have not been an issue…but I am sure that is because he is the only horned goat we have…just curious about using the banding method for future babies as I have access to a bander from a friend but do not have access to an iron.
thriftyhomesteader says
Banding should not be the method of choice. It is typically only done when someone buys a horned goat that they want dehorned. It is not a method of disbudding — as disbudding is killing the horn buds so that horns do not grow. Using a band is a method of dehorning because you do it after horns have grown. Dehorning is always a worse option than disbudding.
Lila Madama says
I had my first experience yesterday of one of my babies getting disbudded. I was absolutely traumatized and cried the entire day and I still have to do my other one in a week. I know it has to be done for all sorts of reasons. But it still looks painful and hard to look at. I haven’t found any information yet but is there a cream or ointment I can put on them to help with the healing process, like neosporin or other anti-bacteria cream to help with the itch?
thriftyhomesteader says
I have never put anything on my kids after disbudding, and we’ve never had an infection. The iron is more than 1000 degrees, so it kills everything and cauterizes the wound. I would worry about a cream interfering with the scab forming properly. I’ve had very few kids that wanted to rub their head on anything afterwards, but neosporin and antibacterial creams do not stop itching. When they do that, I just try to hold them a lot and pet them to take their mind off their head.
Lila Madama says
Thanks so much for your reply. It helps to understand it a little better. Thankfully our vet gave her a tetanus shot beforehand and also sedated her with gas anesthesia. Anyway thanks again. Have a great day!
Chandra says
I love this thread thank you so much ..
I have two Alpine Pet goats 7 weeks old.
They were terribly sick when I got them at a week. And chose to not stress them more and disbud, they have little horns, dehorning paste I just don’t know if that would work at this point? Do you ?
And I was wondering if there is a filing process I could keep the horns down?
thriftyhomesteader says
Paste does not even work well at a week of age. At 7 weeks you have fully formed horns, and paste would do nothing. You are not even disbudding at that age. It would be dehorning, which I do NOT recommend. If you don’t want horns at this point, you need to take them to a vet so they can be anesthetized and dehorned.
Maggie says
At what age do you usually disbud? I’ve heard anything from 3-7 days as ideal.
thriftyhomesteader says
It depends on the horn buds. Some bucklings are born with very prominent horn buds, and it’s best if you disbud them within a few days. But most bucks should be done no later than a week. Doelings are usually much smaller. You may not even be able to feel the horn buds until they’re a week or 10 days old. Bottom line — just do NOT let them turn into little horns. The smaller they are when you do them, the quicker and easier it is.
Laura Roe says
Do you have any experience with an express gas inline disbudder (like what Coburn sells)? I’ve used the Rhinehart hot iron for many years but am just curious if you have experience with the gas disbudders. I’d like less contact time on the goat than I get with my Rhinehart unit.
thriftyhomesteader says
I have not used it. We’ve been using the Rhinehart X30 (regular goat tip) for 18 years — on our second one now — and we love it.
Angie Ash says
Oh. My. Gosh! I just got to the part in your book about disbudding. I didn’t know I needed to do this so early, but it totally makes sense. My babies are 1 1/2 weeks old!! My premie is 4 weeks(but his buds are smaller than everyone else’s. Am I too late to disbud? I’m calling my vet today.
thriftyhomesteader says
Totally makes sense that the premie’s horn buds are smaller than everyone else’s. We’ve disbudded some super tiny kids later than average because we can’t even find their horn buds until 2-3 of weeks (almost always doelings). You’re not too late. You’re probably perfect for the doelings. The buckling’s horn buds might be a little bigger, which just means they might take a few seconds longer to burn down. But they should be fine.
Angie Ash says
Okay, great! My vet is coming tomorrow. If we are selling 2 of the boys is it better to go ahead and disbud or sell them as is? I’m keeping the premie and the doelings, so I’m disbudding them for sure. Thank you so much!
thriftyhomesteader says
Absolutely disbud the ones you want to sell. It is much easier to sell goats without horns. And if you don’t disbud them, they may be purchased by someone who decides they don’t want horns, and then they put them through the horror of dehorning.
Angie Ash says
Okay, that’s what I was thinking. Plus, I didn’t want my little guys with horns to be ramming everybody else. Thanks:). I’m castrating the buckling that I’m keeping. My vet said he likes to do it around 2 months. I haven’t read about castrations yet…. Really enjoying your book! Hoping to try goats milk soap this week. I have gallons and gallons of milk:).
Angie Ash says
Goat disbudding went great!! It wasn’t as horrible as I thought it was going to be. All babies jumping around and playing:)
thriftyhomesteader says
I’m so glad to hear the disbudding went well and that the babies are doing great!
thriftyhomesteader says
Yes, goats with horns can become jerks if they realize they have the advantage. Two months for castration is what I go for. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the book!
Anne jennings says
I recently picked up a product called
OW-EZE from molly’s Herbals that is suppose to help with pain. I am going to try this with disbudding