Dehorning of cattle is performed routinely in the beef and dairy industry but causes significant acute and chronic pain, with polled genetics and early disbudding with anaesthesia offering welfare improvements.
Dehorning causes acute pain that is well-documented in physiological and behavioral indicators - vocalizing, struggling, and sustained cortisol elevation persist for hours after the procedure without pain relief. Adult dehorning is among the most painful routine livestock procedures. The persistence of dehorning as a routine practice without pain relief in the US, despite available and effective anaesthetic options, represents a welfare failure driven by economic convenience rather than necessity. The existence of polled genetics eliminates the need for any dehorning while maintaining productivity, making it a long-term structural solution.