Calf Dehorner - Suggestions

Genuineguy · 23-09-2015 10:30AM #1

I am looking for a good gas calf dehorner, Any suggestions.

Had a Express dehorner(Blue box) but was to severe on the calf had to return.

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The head of the dehorner was to deep and removes too much of the horn.

Causing heavy bleeding. Neighbour also got one had issue with dehorner - Lost a calf over it.

Maybe suitable for older calfs with bigger horns. Obviously a lot harder to catch

Hornup dehorner don't have enough calfs to justify the cost of the dehorner.

Any suggestions on other brands. Preferable gas?

Genghis Cant · 23-09-2015 10:38AM

I've done a world of calves with this one. Never a bother.

http://www.mullinahonecoop.ie/catalog/partdetail.aspx?partno=CTL00479

dohc turbo2 · 23-09-2015 11:02AM

Have this one https://www.agridirect.ie/product/express-gas-dehorner-with-20mm-head it dose be cheaper some times , can't complain , and know a few lads that have it,

lefthooker · 23-09-2015 11:10AM

Could the problem be with the man and not the dehorner?

We've used a few types of dehorner at home, from the big cylinder to the Vulkan http://www.vulkangastools.com/dehorner.html but the Express is by far the best http://pedigreecattle.ie/general-supplies/dehorning/express-gas-dehorner

Limestone Cowboy · 23-09-2015 12:06PM

dohc turbo2 wrote: »

Have this one https://www.agridirect.ie/product/express-gas-dehorner-with-20mm-head it dose be cheaper some times , can't complain , and know a few lads that have it,

Have it as well and find it right good. Had 2 portasol ones before that and they were forever breaking.

Genuineguy · 23-09-2015 12:25PM

lefthooker wrote: »

Could the problem be with the man and not the dehorner?

We've used a few types of dehorner at home, from the big cylinder to the Vulkan http://www.vulkangastools.com/dehorner.html but the Express is by far the best http://pedigreecattle.ie/general-supplies/dehorning/express-gas-dehorner

The Express dehorner I found was too aggressive cuts out the horn clean. without burning the surrounding and in my case lead to bleeding of several calfes. As I mentioned maybe its more suited if the calf has bigger horns. The dehorner head cannot go has deep when trying to remove the bud.

I went back to an old gas dehorner connected to big barrel of gas and had no problem. It removes the horn and also burns the area from where the horn was removed. The only issue is lugging out a gas cylinder every time I want to dehorn

.

How did you find the Vulkan performed? The head of the Vulkan is a lot different to the head of the express. And it also states it can be used on young calves.

•Suitable for dehorning calves between 6 and 21 days.
•Height of horn bud should not be more than 1cm.

Deepsouthwest · 23-09-2015 12:44PM

lefthooker wrote: »

Could the problem be with the man and not the dehorner?

Have to agree with this question. I've prob done over a thousand calves with one of those dehorners and the only prob is occasionally having to change jet/nozzle which stops it from getting hot enough. Paid a lot of money for a horn up one and sold it for the half the price a yr later just to be shot of it. Waste of time, and I was back to the one in the blue box quick fast.
And why are u taking the horn out anyway? U only have to burn a ring around the bud and it never grows again, amazing how many lads still don't know this

Genuineguy · 23-09-2015 01:24PM

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

lefthooker wrote: »

Could the problem be with the man and not the dehorner?

Have to agree with this question. I've prob done over a thousand calves with one of those dehorners and the only prob is occasionally having to change jet/nozzle which stops it from getting hot enough. Paid a lot of money for a horn up one and sold it for the half the price a yr later just to be shot of it. Waste of time, and I was back to the one in the blue box quick fast.
And why are u taking the horn out anyway? U only have to burn a ring around the bud and it never grows again, amazing how many lads still don't know this

The gas dehorner that I currently have you have to remove the horn as to burn down to the bud especially if the horn is protruding a lot. Plus by scooping out the horn I am certain by giving it one last touch of the dehorner that the horn will not grow back.

I know that was the principle of the Horn up, To burn a ring and not remove the horn. Seems to be the same with the express.. has it has the same characteristics of the head of the Horn up - being deep.

lefthooker · 23-09-2015 01:57PM

Genuineguy wrote: »

The Express dehorner I found was too aggressive cuts out the horn clean. without burning the surrounding and in my case lead to bleeding of several calfes. As I mentioned maybe its more suited if the calf has bigger horns. The dehorner head cannot go has deep when trying to remove the bud.

I went back to an old gas dehorner connected to big barrel of gas and had no problem. It removes the horn and also burns the area from where the horn was removed. The only issue is lugging out a gas cylinder every time I want to dehorn .

How did you find the Vulkan performed? The head of the Vulkan is a lot different to the head of the express. And it also states it can be used on young calves.

•Suitable for dehorning calves between 6 and 21 days.
•Height of horn bud should not be more than 1cm.

I thought the Vulkan was a good job until I got the Express. The comparison is like night and day. I like that the Express head is deeper, I think the Vulkan is too shallow if the horn is anything more than a bud. The Express also gets a lot hotter too, it takes a horn off much quicker and cauterises better too. I had a few FR calves this year from a few heifers I bought. The FR had good horn where my own Limos of the same age barely had buds. The Express took both out cleanly where I'd have been hacking at the FR with the Vulkan

The way you describe it it sounds like you're digging at the bud/horn way too much

Genuineguy · 23-09-2015 02:28PM

lefthooker wrote: »

I thought the Vulkan was a good job until I got the Express. The comparison is like night and day. I like that the Express head is deeper, I think the Vulkan is too shallow if the horn is anything more than a bud. The Express also gets a lot hotter too, it takes a horn off much quicker and cauterises better too. I had a few FR calves this year from a few heifers I bought. The FR had good horn where my own Limos of the same age barely had buds. The Express took both out cleanly where I'd have been hacking at the FR with the Vulkan

The way you describe it it sounds like you're digging at the bud/horn way too much

Yes - with the Express it penetrates to deep, therefore removing bud removing to much especially when the horn is small.
from understanding of this thread, There is no need to remove the horn at all when using this type of dehorner on a young calf as it penetrates deep enough without having to scoop out the horn. So it seems that the Express dehorner is getting the thumbs up here

Mad4simmental · 23-09-2015 02:29PM

Just put it over the horn and press in & burn/brake the skin around the horn and job done. No hacking, digging out of the horn/bud is necessary at all.

Have an electric rechargeable one here and I find it good. I'd only do a few at a time as they get older.

Genuineguy · 23-09-2015 02:38PM

Mad4simmental wrote: »

Just put it over the horn and press in & burn/brake the skin around the horn and job done. No hacking, digging out of the horn/bud is necessary at all.

Have an electric rechargeable one here and I find it good. I'd only do a few at a time as they get older.

Thanks for advice - I Will pick up an express dehorner again and will see how I get on.

Calf Dehorner - Suggestions

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