AVMA's policy on pain control for dehorning

[snowcap121]

Great video! These are all good suggestions for reducing the pain associated with dehorning. Caustic paste is another way producers can minimize dehorning pain. Other important resources on dehorning and pain control are posted on the "Dehorning" Web site. 

[mosldent]

Sure it decreases pain, but keeping the animal in the chute being handled for a longer period of time surely increases the stress... and the stress, NOT the pain, is what leads to detrimental effects such as a comprimised immune system and therefore more disease. Sounds good in theory, but anyone who works with cattle on a daily basis know that this is not practical nor is it any more humane.

[AmerVetMedAssn]

@mosldent Discomfort is minimized through pain management, which includes choosing the technique and its timing, as well as the use of anesthetics and analgesics. Even in remote locations a butane disbudder can be used w/o local anesthetic to disbud calves younger than 8 wks. When there is a need to dehorn older calves, the science suggests use of analgesia can decrease distress-related behaviors and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood, even though restraint is required.

[AmerVetMedAssn]

...and for more information, we've got a backgrounder on our website titled "Backgrounder: Welfare Implications of the Dehorning and Disbudding of Cattle."