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Cattle owners often find themselves in a situation where the cow broke the horn. Such injuries can be prevented, but if this does happen, then the necessary measures should be taken immediately to help the animal.
What are the dangers of horn injuries in cattle
Horns are a kind of derivative of the skin along with nails, claws and hair. Their formation comes from the transformation of the epidermis. It grows from the base, and after the final formation does not change until the end of life.
The section shows that the organ is represented by a keratinized upper layer, a kind of cover – the epidermis, as well as the dermis. Its main function is to connect with the frontal bone. In addition, blood capillaries and vessels, nerve endings pass through it, which feed the capsule and ensure its active growth.
Under the dermis is connective tissue, which is covered with a mucous membrane. Inside it, the horn is empty.
The horn of a cow is usually divided into three main parts:
- top;
- body – middle part;
- the basis of the organ is the root.
The base is connected to the soft part – the cere, which, in turn, connects it to the skin.
Blood vessels, capillaries, nerves are in the two lower layers of the cow’s horn, and the top is the keratinized epidermis. This way, this part can be removed without hurting the cow or causing bleeding.
Often a broken horn in a cow leads to complications. Especially if the lower sections are affected. In this case, a bleeding wound appears on the head, and the base of the horn also bleeds. As a rule, if help is not provided in time, then microorganisms enter the wound, causing blood poisoning. The local temperature is elevated, the cow is anxious when touched. All this indicates the beginning of the inflammatory process. After some time, suppuration of the wound surface begins. The cover becomes movable and can be removed.
Veterinarians categorize injuries as mild, moderate, and severe in severity.
The injury is considered mild if the very tip is broken, as there are no blood vessels there.
Small cracks are classified as moderate. This opens bleeding, but the prognosis is usually favorable.
A fracture in the middle part is already a severe case. The animal is in severe pain. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate into an open wound, which contributes to the development of inflammation in the frontal sinus, oral and nasal cavities. The animal lowers its head and tilts it to the injured side. Sometimes the infection also penetrates the brain. This type is characterized by the mobility of the broken organ and unilateral nosebleeds. Blood enters the nasal passage through the frontal sinus.
The most severe type of injury is the detachment of the cover and scrapping at the base. This is very dangerous and painful for cattle.
What to do if a cow breaks a horn
Therapy for cracks is aimed at cleansing dirt, restoring the skin and epidermis.
First of all, if the horn is broken, you should:
- wash the wound with a syringe with a solution of manganese or hydrogen peroxide;
- grease with iodine or brilliant green;
- apply the most tight bandage with antibacterial ointment and change it every day;
- with a significant increase in temperature, antibiotic treatment should be prescribed.
With a closed fracture, if the cover is not damaged, a splint is placed on the broken horn. You should also apply a very tight bandage in the form of a figure eight between the two horns. The cow should be kept in a separate room and walked away from the herd.
If the horn is broken in the middle part, the therapy consists in stopping the bleeding, treating the wound with antiseptics, then resorting to surgery using anesthesia, since the broken horn does not recover.
Prevention of horn injuries in cows
Prevention should be aimed at eliminating the underlying causes of fractures. Cows must be kept in free stalls in accordance with zoohygienic standards. In the premises where cows are kept, inventory should not be stored, as well as anything that can cause injury. The exercise of the herd should not take place near overgrown gardens, windbreaks. It is not recommended to use non-standard binding options. When transporting cows, competent fixation of cows with a special bridle is necessary.
However, the most reliable way to avoid injury is to dehorn (decornuate) the entire livestock. The procedure is carried out at a young age, when the horns are not fully formed. There are several options for this:
- sawing, in which only the top is removed;
- chemical removal is carried out under the influence of certain active substances;
- electrical removal, the essence of which is to cauterize emerging horns.
The decornuation method prevents horn injuries in the future.
Conclusion
If a cow has broken a horn, the reasons can be varied. The owner is able to eliminate them and provide assistance to the animal. More and more experts are coming to the conclusion that cows do not need horns at home. Their purpose is protection. So for domestic cows that are kept in the herd, they are a kind of atavism.