The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Blueeyes on September 07, 2011, 07:21:58 am
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Hiya, we have 6 Shetland Rams about 7months old and when we went for their nightly cuddle/chat with them we noticed one had a slight amount of blood round his horn, he was happy enough tho so we left him, we've just checked on them and noticed that his horn has come off! There isn't any fresh blood or even much on him from last nightvand he is frolicking with his friends and getting up to his usual naughtiness :D is this normal for sheep?
Were new to all this so basically learning from on here and as we go along :o
Any advice gratefully received!
Blueeyes xx
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Yes - this happens. He probably knocked it either sparring or putting his head through a hedge or fence. They do come off quite easily which is why it's advised not to handle sheep by their horns.
When it happened to one of ours we were advised to use blue teramycin spray, some Spot-on (as we were in peak fly season) and I think we got a shot from the vet although I think that's very optional.
The inner core will harden but will be a different shape to his otherbhorn.
It's a bit like loosing a toenail
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As SQ says, young sheep often pull off the out part of their horn, leaving the inner core behind. Sometimes this can bleed a fair amount, in which case some clean cobwebs will help it to clot. Then blue spray and anti-fly-strike as SQ said.
Much more dangerous is when the whole horn comes off, core and all, as this leaves a hole in the skull and tears an artery which will bleed profusely. 5 mins pressure is needed here until the bleeding stops, then a careful assessment of the severity. Obviously the brain is just under the skull so infection is a possibility. We had this happen to a Jacob tup hogg years ago - the vet showed us how to identify the artery and pinch it. The sheep was then given a wonderful, colourful bandage over that side of his head, and was called JimLad until he went off for slaughter a few months later.
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Much more dangerous is when the whole horn comes off, core and all, as this leaves a hole in the skull and tears an artery which will bleed profusely.
Thankfully this doesn't happen very often.
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That's true ;D ;D
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Thanks guys, looks like were doing the right thing then :D were pretty sure it's happened locking horns with a slightly larger ram, it's always this one tho that's in the middle of any trouble happening :o
At least he isn't bothered by it and is still happy and playing ;D
Thanks again xx
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One of our Jacob ram lambs lost one horn (but not the core) a month or so ago and there was a lot of blood - we used the blue spray. His horn has grown back well although a bit shorter than the other and not quite as smooth but not bad
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I had two tup lambs do it on the creep feeder - which has now been replaced with a different design! And a four shear ewe pull her horn off in the hay feeder on Christmas Day ::) She looks a bit lop-sided now but she's fine (and it gave DH and Dad something to do after lunch :D)
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I have a tup that broke a horn when it was a lamb and the horns have never been right and grow inwards I have cut them several times. The broken horn is just a curly stunted thing. If one horn gets broken can it effect the growth of the other or have I just got bad horns,
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Losing one horn won't affect the other horns growth. Some breeds of sheep are bad for having the horns growing into the face and head, this is often made worse if the horn has been damaged. Not a difficult job to keep the horns trimmed though, a hacksaw make a decent job. A wire saw is ideal.
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As I thought just bad horn growth and yes I use a wire for use by the SAS no less as a survival tool. Quicker and much safer than a hacksaw as you can work away from the head and if the sheep moves its head a wire is much more flexible than a hacksaw blade and wont break.
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Thanks for all the replies, it's put our minds at rest over 'our boy' ;D
Blueeyes xx