I have bought two 4 and 5 month old nubians from a lady in Missouri. They were disbudded. I have had them for about 5 weeks now. I think the horns are starting to grow back and I don't know how to approach the problem. I really hestitate to disbud again. The horns are almost a half inch long. These are my first goats and I don't know what to do. Should they be disbudded again?

-- Melissa Haskins Tate (Kaltate@sunflower.com), October 22, 2002

Answers

Yes- if they are loose break them off, otherwise use a clean pair of sharp wire cutters to cut the scur off and then burn the area well. If tetanus is a problem in your area you may want to give them a tetanus shot before doing this. On the other hand, if the scurs are only 1/2" long and don't seem top be growing much, and thye don't bother you, leave them alone. They will not grow into full size horns again, just small horny stubs or curls that break off from time to time.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), October 23, 2002.