Dehorning removes horns from cattle to prevent injuries, but is a painful procedure that is often performed without adequate anesthesia or analgesia.
Dehorning causes acute pain responses measurable through cortisol levels, heart rate, and behavioral indicators that persist for days after the procedure. The pain of late dehorning — removing developed horn tissue from older animals — is comparable to major surgery. Most cattle in the US undergo this procedure without any pain relief, representing millions of animals experiencing avoidable suffering annually. Breeding for naturally polled cattle offers a long-term solution that eliminates the need for the procedure entirely.