Disbudding is a routine but important job in the calf shed. Done early and with pain relief, it's better for the calf and easier for you. Here's the what, when and why.
Why disbud?
Removing the horn buds early prevents horns developing, which makes cattle safer to handle and safer around each other for the rest of their lives. It's far kinder to do it early than to dehorn later.
When to do it
- Earlier is better - generally within the first few weeks of life
- Younger calves have small buds that heal quickly
- It's less stressful for young calves than for older ones
Why pain relief matters
Best practice - and rising welfare expectations - mean disbudding should be done with sedation and local anaesthetic. Beyond being the right thing to do, calves settle faster and the whole job is calmer and quicker. Our farm team disbuds this way as standard, and can combine it with drenching, mineral supplementation and vaccination to save handling.