Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Dehorning Welfare and Polled Genetics

Cattle dehorning is a painful management procedure that can be eliminated through selection for polled genetics, reducing welfare harm across cattle populations.

Key Facts

Dehorning without analgesia causes acute pain and the practice is widespread globally
Sedation plus local anaesthetic block followed by NSAIDs represents current best practice
Disbudding of young calves is less traumatic than dehorning older animals
Polled cattle genetics eliminate the need for dehorning entirely
Polled genetics are available in all major dairy and beef breeds through genomic selection

Welfare Considerations

Dehorning causes significant pain that is frequently managed inadequately. Genetic selection for polled traits eliminates this welfare harm entirely from future generations. The combined welfare benefit of industry-wide polled selection would dwarf any incremental improvement in dehorning analgesia.

What You Can Do

Support cattle breeding programmes prioritising polled genetics in breeding bulls
Advocate for analgesia requirements for any cattle dehorning that does occur
Choose beef and dairy products from farms using polled genetics wherever possible