06/07/2026
Earlier I saw a post about disbudding and the comment section was honestly extremely disappointing.
Whether you’re for disbudding or against it, sending de@th threats, calling people names, and being blatantly rude is completely uncalled for. It’s okay to have different opinions on goat management. It’s okay to disagree. What isn’t okay is treating people horribly because they don’t do things exactly the way you would.
I’ve noticed that a lot of people form very strong opinions on this topic without considering why others make the choices they do. There are responsible, knowledgeable goat owners on both sides of the debate. Having a different management style doesn’t automatically make someone abusive, ignorant, or a bad owner.
Personally, I support disbudding and have my reasons for doing so. Others choose to keep horns and have reasons for that. At the end of the day, every farm, herd, and situation is different.
If your argument is strong, it should be able to stand on facts and experience, not insults and threats.
We can disagree without acting like complete jerks to each other.
Also anyone disagreeing with disbudding simply because they think it’s cruel has likely never seen the reality of what horns can do.
The main reason kids scream during disbudding is because they’re being restrained. In most cases, they go right back to playing, hopping around, or running straight to the milk as soon as they’re released. Yes it does hurt, but i’d rather that then come out to a goat that has suffered injuries or death that could’ve been prevented by something that takes less than a minute.
Meanwhile, horns can cause lifelong risks.
• Goats can get stuck in fences and potentially hang themselves, break their necks, or suffer other serious injuries.
• They can injure other goats. I’ve seen puncture wounds, gashed udders, goats caught between another animal and a set of horns, and even goats get their own legs stuck in their horns. During normal herd behavior, a horn can easily cause severe eye injuries.
• They can injure people. I’ve personally been stabbed by a goat’s horns badly enough that stitches were nearly necessary, and I’ve seen countless stories of owners being hurt by horned goats.
• Most sanctioned dairy goat shows, including those under ADGA rules, require goats to be disbudded or naturally polled. Horned goats generally cannot compete.
There are many more reasons, but the point is this: a few seconds of discomfort can prevent years of risk and potentially save a goat’s life.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect that. I will continue to disbud my goats unless there is a legitimate health reason not to. For example, I have a wether who suffered a stroke in utero and still has his horns because disbudding would have been too much for his already fragile condition. That does not mean it’s life threatening, he was already trying to pass away almost everyday. but he pulled through and is great now.
What I don’t respect are the insults, harassment, and people being hateful being directed at people for making a management decision they don’t agree with. Disagree if you want, but name-calling and threatening others isn’t productive, mature, or helpful to the conversation.
If you don’t agree with disbudding, that’s your choice. But please remember that many of us have seen firsthand the injuries and tragedies that horns can cause. Scroll past if you disagree, and allow others the same respect you’d want for yourself.
pictured are some of my goats who have been disbudded…they look pretty happy and healthy to me 🙂
