[Pil-pc-oceania] Free BD preps for non BD gardeners only!

[Daniel Rossi]

On 21/05/2008, at 7:06 PM, Tamara Griffiths wrote:

> From my friend Sue:
>
>
> Well, there is nothing nice or painless about de-horning.  I have  
> just had 6 young bulls done and used the vet.  A sedative is  
> administered and the horn removed with a wire (like a saw).  It is  
> painful and there is a lot of blood.  Within 3 days they are  
> cheerful again but it bleeds if knocked.
>
> Our former sharefarmer used to remove the heifers horns as they went  
> into the shed for the first time which we thought appalling. He used  
> de-horners (like nail clippers sort of).  Last year we persuaded him  
> to get the horns burnt off the baby calves.  Pain for half a day.
>
> I think it won't be long before abattoirs refuse to take horned  
> animals, for two reasons.  Safety for operators, but mainly to  
> prevent carcasse bruising.  There is no doubt that cattle with horns  
> do not hesitate to use them.

Thanks ! Doesn't sound so good does it. So it is necessary to de- 
horn ? Or is it done purely for this preparation ?  If it's necessary  
to do for their health and in a less painful way, that would be the  
most ethical way to obtain these I think. My issue is if they are just  
taken for personal gain and against their will, or worse obtained from  
factory farming from the meat industry which isn't exactly  
"permaculture cows" :) If they are in partnership with you, offering  
you multi functions and offering them their needs and a healthy life,  
no reason to stab them in the back.

I'll go hide now :\
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