What is the best option veterinarians should consider to manage dehorning pain?

• A. Avoid the painful procedure when possible (use polled genetics or leave horns on where feasible)
• B. Always perform the procedure with anesthesia
• C. Dehorn with no analgesia
• D. Dehorn using chemical cautery

Answer: (A)

Minimizing pain from dehorning starts with preventing the need for the procedure in the first place. Using polled genetics means cattle are born hornless, so there’s no dehorning to cause discomfort or stress. In systems where horns can be left intact without compromising safety or management, choosing that path avoids the pain entirely and supports better welfare over the animal’s life.

If dehorning cannot be avoided, it should be performed with proper pain control and handling to reduce suffering, rather than relying on methods that inherently cause more pain. Options that involve no analgesia or that rely on painful techniques are not acceptable from a welfare standpoint.