The Pros And Cons Of Animal Mutilation

For my research project I chose Animal Mutilation because it is a method used in factory farming, I believe that this practise could be improved for the welfare of the animal. It is a practise that allows handlers to mutilate or disfigure the animal’s body parts, generally for the welfare of both animal and handler. I chose to research “Dehorning and Disbudding: Is this an ethical practise?” This was because I believe that in researching this topic it will enable me to improve welfare and particular situations farm animals are bred into, for both the health of the consumers and the livestock. The research methods I used were, discussions papers, websites and current guidelines used by cattle farmers.

After researching “dehorning and disbudding”

Horns develop from the corium within the skin tissue above the skull and is present before birth, when they first appear the horn buds are around 5-10 mm long, after the 8 weeks the corium fuses with the periosteum of the skull, this is why it is important to disbud at a young age. Choices pf disbudding range from genetic to surgical. The risks to both calf and operator vary with each technique. Most producers choose to disbud instead of dehorn because it is easier for the operator and commonly less

The chemical paste will prevent further growth of the young horn bud (less than one to three weeks of age) when properly applied to the frontal skull (by destroying the horn producing cells around the horn bud). The chemicals can be found as sticks or pastes, to protect the calf certain measures must be taken to avoid serious injuries and complications. Protect the calf by, using duct tape and or Vaseline around the area it is being applied to avoid unnecessary chemical burns, keep the calf out of the rain to avoid chemical run off into the eyes/mouth and can be very painful without anaesthesia among other complications. This method is typically used for calves less than 8 days old, however, this means the calf must be taken away from its mother at a young age. This can cause stress to the mother and baby which means added behavioural complications with the procedure. Most, if not all surgical methods of dehorning appear to be similarly stressful. (Sylvester et al. 1998a, b)

Physiologic and behavioural indicators have been used to assess acute distress responses to potentially painful husbandry procedures. Tissue damage (e.g., from disbudding and dehorning) results in activation and release of intracellular contents from damaged cells, inflammatory cells, and nerve fibres. Physiologic, neuroendocrine, and behavioural changes indicative of pain and distress are observed following