Dehorning in cattle/ buffalo
Indications:
1. To enhance the appearance of animal.
2. To make the less dangerous.
3. In certain Disease of horn like born cancer, fracture at the base of the born, broken
horn etc.
Special Equipment:
Surgical saw or embryotomy wire, bone hammer, bone chisel.
Surgical Anatomy:
1. The cornual process of the frontal bone forms the core or structure basis of the horn
proper.
2. Cornual processes are the osseous structures continuous with the bone of skill and
as an animal matures they become hollow to from a portion of frontal sinus.
3. The entire frontal sinus is lined by mucous membrane.
4. The corium of the horn is united to the corneal process by periosteum which is
traversed by numerous blood vessels.
5. The horn proper closely covers the corneal process.
6. The base of horn proper is thin and is continuous with the epidermis.
7. The horn substance becomes thicker as it proceed towards the apex, where it
becomes solid.
8. Blood supply to the horn is through corneal artery, which is the terminal branch of
the artery temporalis superficial. It passes lateral to the base of the horn, giving
numerous branches which go to the corium of the horn and certain ear muscles.
9. Cornual nerve supplies the horn. It is a branch of lacrimal nerve which passes
slightly lateral and ventral to the border of the frontal bone.
Site of Operation:
At the base of the horn or bellow the affected part.
Control and Anaesthesia:
1. After sedation or tranquilization, the animal is controlled in recumbent position
keeping the affected horn up.
2. Cornual nerve is blocked to anaesthetize the area or local anaesthetic solution is
infiltrated at the site of incision.
Surgical Technique:
In case of young calves, debudding is done. However the horn in large animal is
amputated either by flap or direct amputation method.
Flap Method:
1. Skin incision is made encircling the base of the horn immediately below
the coronary band. It extended about 1-2 cm anteriorly in the temporal fossa below
the crest of the frontal bone.
2. The coronal vessels are located in the temporal fossa by blunt dissection
and ligated in the order to prevent haemorrhage.
3. The underlying tissues and skin all around the base of the horn are
separated in order to make a skin flap.
4. The periosteum of frontal bone is exposed and the horn is removed from
the base with the help of the help of saw or embryotomy wire leaving the skin flap
5. the haemorrhage is controlled by ligating the vessels if any.
6. The two edges of the skin flap are brought together in close apposition to
each other without tension without cutting the extra bone by chisel and hammer.
7. the entire skin flap is sutured by interrupted or mattress sutures
Direct Method
1. The entire bone is amputated with the help of embryotomy wire or saw immediately
below the coronary band to prevent the development of stumpy growth.
2. Haemorrhage is controlled by ligating the vessels, if possible, or by thermocautery
using hot iron.
Note:
Embryotomy wire should be placed on the median aspect of the base of the horn at the
level of coronary band so that the wire comes immediately below the band or outside the
head.
Debudding
In calves less than a week old, following technique is used.
1. Horn buds at each side of the fold are identified
2. Hairs around the base of the bud are clipped and site is prepared asepticall
3. The Vaseline is applied all around the base of the horn bud and a caustic like NaOH
or Silver Nitrate crystals are rubbed over the horn bud till oozing of blood occurs.
4. The haemorrhage is controlled by digital pressure
Post Operative Care
1. A course of antibiotics should be given for about four days.
2. Fly repellent should be used on the skin.
3. The animal should be kept placed at hygienic place and should not be allowed to
move out.
4. The wound should be treated with antiseptic till healing occurs
5. The skin sutures in flap method of horn amputation should be removed 12 to 14
days after the operation or till healing is complete.
