Livestock dehorning

Although polling is common among cattle and sheep, some varieties of livestock species cannot easily be bred to lack horns naturally.

Dehorning is only recommended with local anesthesia and sedation by a veterinarian or a trained professional,[4] although a 2011 study showed that only 10% of dairy farmers follow guidelines.

[5] Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season.

Removal of larger horns is usually performed during spring and autumn to avoid fly season.

Use of longer-term pain medicine, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is being researched in the US to ensure food safety.

For mature cattle that were not dehorned when they were young, another common practice is to cut off only the pointed end of the horn.

This is likely due to their attempts to avoid disturbing partially healed wounds and to relieve discomfort, respectively.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey suggested that most cattle in the U.S. were disbudded or dehorned without the use of anesthesia at that time.