DeHorning Paste

Dehorning is one of the jobs every calf operation has to get right, and paste is the quiet way to do it. There is no cutting and no bleeding, and no fly problems at the treatment site. Shock and pain are negligible, so the job stays calm for the calf and for you.

Paste works best early. It is made for calves up to eight weeks old, and the younger the calf, the easier the job goes. It can be used in most areas at any time of the year, so you can plan the job around your calving schedule instead of waiting on the weather.

Highlights

• No cutting and no bleeding
• Made for calves up to eight weeks old
• Negligible shock and pain
• No fly problems at the treatment site
• Usable in most areas, any time of year

Why paste beats cutting for most calf jobs

Cutting horn is bloody, stressful work, and it means restraining a bigger, stronger animal. A paste gets the job done without a blade, so the work goes faster and there is less to clean up afterward. That is the kind of job you want to do early, while the calf is small and easy to handle.

Who it suits: a dairy or beef operation with a steady calf crop, or a small farm that raises a few calves a year and wants to handle the job in-house. Keep a jar on the shelf so you can treat calves while they are still young, and don't wait until the horns have grown in.

At a glance

How to use it

Treat each calf while it is young, inside the eight-week window the paste is made for.

1. Check the calf's age before you start. The paste is made for calves up to eight weeks old, and the younger the better.
2. Keep treated calves out of the rain and away from other calves for several hours, so the paste does not run or rub off.
3. Follow the directions that come with the paste, and keep the calf calm and restrained while you work.
4. Keep the jar tightly closed and out of reach of kids and pets, and wash your hands after use.

Plan the job around your calving schedule. A jar on the shelf before the first birth means no scramble when the first calf shows up.

Good to know

• Mark each calf's birthdate on the calendar so you know when it passes eight weeks.
• Pair the paste with a good calf-handling chute and sturdy restraints, the same kit you use for tagging and castrating.
• Younger calves are easier to handle, and a calm calf makes the job quicker for both of you.
• Stock a spare jar in the barn so you are never caught short when a late calf arrives.
• The paste is caustic. Wear gloves, and keep it away from your eyes and skin.

About Dr. Naylor

H.W. Naylor, known as Dr. Naylor Products, has made dependable veterinary products since 1926. It is a family-owned company, and its products are proudly made in New York.

Get a jar on the shelf before the next calf crop hits the ground.