FOR years, veterinarian Geoffry Fordyce had been thinking that perhaps applying gauze to the wound after dehorning cattle would help with healing.
The University of Queensland Senior Research Fellow finally found the time to launch a study and, with some funding from MLA, discovered he was right.
“The main opportunity I saw was trying to replace the use of chemicals to control flies, and find a method to control bleeding.”
The project found that applying cotton gauze surgical swabs significantly reduced haemorrhage and infection rates in the dehorning wounds affected by ‘frontal sinus exposure’.
The research, carried out following UQ animal welfare guidelines, involved dehorning 50 six-month-old Brahman heifers, selected because of their likelihood to experience sinus exposure.
The older calves were also chosen as this would most likely be the age when cattle were dehorned on the larger stations.
“Twenty-six did not have the swabs applied and 24 did. The infection rate after surgery was 11 per cent for those that weren’t patched, compared to 1 per cent for those that were.
“The swabs also reduced the extent of haemorrhage, which we expected, as it is a standard surgical practice. The swab creates a matrix to give a clot structure and strength.”
Dr Fordyce said it would not have an effect on pain but it certainly would help with healing and perhaps the mortality rate.
A recent study published earlier this year found that there was a 2.1 per cent death rate related to dehorning.
“I expect most of that is due to bleeding,” he said.
One of the problems identified was that a high number of swabs were dislodged as soon as the heifers were released from the branding cradle.
“I think at this stage the best advice is don’t try to go too fast. Before you release the animal make sure the swab is attached by holding it on for 15 to 20 seconds; the blood will clot and the wound will heal very quickly.
“If you let the cattle up straightaway and the swab is still wet, it will dislodge.”
The swabs used are 7.5cm x 7.5cm swabs available from any veterinarian surgery and cost a few cents each. Labour taken to patch would cost about 50 cents per animal.
Dr Fordyce said this cost may be recouped in higher survival rates, although further research was needed to quantify this potential benefit.
Meanwhile, applying swabs could replace the traditional application of chemicals used to control flies and infection, he added.
The research team, who conducted the study at Mittiebah Station on the Barkly Tableland, included Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries officer Helen McMillan, UQ scientist Nicky McGrath and staff from the North Australian Pastoral Company.
Dehorning best practice
- Breed polled cattle
- Disbud when young (around two months of age) – remove horn buds before they attach to the skull and have a hollow connected to the frontal sinus
- Use a calf cradle when dehorning – good restraint is essential
- Ensure the dehorning instrument is well-maintained, clean and sharp
- Remove a complete ring of hair 1cm wide around the horn base to prevent regrowth
- Use swabs to help form wound-sealing clots, especially when the frontal sinus is exposed by dehorning or there is arterial bleeding
- Keep up-to-date with pain relief research and commercialisation – once available, use these methods
