Elastrator Horn Removal of Goats |
| By D.J. Gundlock |
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Three month old Boer cross buck: horn base has been shaved with electric clippers and the dark line is drawn on to show where the skin intersects with the horn. This band is perfectly placed, as it is "hooked" beneath the base of the horn and sunken into the soft tissue. |
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Side view of the same buck above. I had drawn a red line to show the proper placement of the band, but covered it up with the band. That is the faint red showing under the green. This band is not likely to slip or be rubbed off. |
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Horns laid back in final stage before detaching. |
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Different view of same doeling. Note that the elastrator band has almost returned to normal size, about 25% of the horn width. |
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One down - one left to go. On the brown buck, there is a triangle where the horn was. Below and to the front of that is a glossy area that is actually dried blood from the horn detaching. |
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Same buck as above, with a good example of the clotted blood on top of the head where horn detached. |
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The horn base has detached, with the horn rocking backward to expose the base. |
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The largest set of horn removed with bands, from a 2 year old Alpine cross doe. |
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A four year old Pygmy Doe. |
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Same doe from above. Note how the left horn has tilted backward but the right horn has flattened in thickness, and also rotated prior to falling off. |
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Failure: this doeling shows two common failures. Horn on the right had band rubbed off. Horn on left had band applied too high, allowing horn growth to continue. Solution: shave base, reband and apply tape across bands to prevent rubbing. |
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From base measured up the front of the horn to the tip, Horn #1 measured 8.75" and shows the hollowness of a typical large horn. Horn #2 is 6.75 inches and clearly shows the elastrator still embedded in horn, with blood and vessel clotting on the inside. Horn #3 is 5.5 inches and shows how a horn will "deflate" and collapse onto itself prior to detaching. Horn #4 is 3.75 inches and was a pliable horn on a young goat, that actually pinched the outside edges of the horn together while detaching. |
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Another view: Horns #1 and #3 have sharp edge where they torn / detached from the skull. Horn #2 with the elastrator highlight for viewing. Horn #4 shows another example of blood clotting, filling in the hollow portion of the horn, as the soft out covering of the horn was actually pinched together into the middle. |
Important
D.J. Gundlock owned a commercial meat goat herd in Southern Alberta. The text description and the photo illustration pages are meant to be used together. Neither D.J. Gundlock nor No-Bull Enterprises are responsible for any damage, injury, death, etc from the use, misuse, or accuracy of this information. Please send questions for D.J. Gundlock to rachel@nobull.net. |
