Joel Alves, [08 Aug 2024 at 07:16:30]: Good morning all. I have a valuable wildebeest heifer who broke her horn in transport. I haven’t dealt with many horn breakages and was wondering if anyone has some good ideas and recommendations for a treatment approach and what is feasible? Gareth Hunter, [08 Aug 2024 at 08:30:21]: Hi Joel. I can’t claim to be experienced with them, but a while ago I treated a springbok with bilateral horn fracture. I thought I’d give amputation a bash (have the benefit of being able to follow up and monitor the animal). The fractures were close to the base of horns (I assumed this to be below the level of the growth plate, but I may be incorrect). I removed them, flushed and cleaned area, and sutured the wounds closed. I administered antibiotics, NSAIDs and ivermectin. The fractures had involved the sinus as some iodine came out the nostrils. I followed up about a week later. One side had healed really nicely, but the other side had an infected draining tract coming out on top of the head. I cleaned the wound again and flushed with iodine. I packed the the tract with Stockholm tar, gave antibiotics, NSAID and ivermectin again. After about a month, both sides had healed, and the animal seemed to be doing well. It’s now been 6 months, and I haven’t noticed any complications. I don’t have any photos when she was returned to the group unfortunately. Ilana van Wyk, [08 Aug 2024 at 08:59:15]: Hi Joel. there are some cool YouTube videos on how to fix broken horns in the longhorn cattle if you want to try to salvage the horn. Casts, plates and screws have all been used Joel Alves, [08 Aug 2024 at 14:29:18]: Thanks Gareth and Ilana. Appreciate the feedback👍👍 HO Reuter, [08 Aug 2024 at 15:19:45]: Hi Joel, I would go with the procedure / advice as given. Since the value of wildebeest heifers is in the ovaries, etc., a missing horn will not affect value significantly. If fracture does not involve skull / sinuses, just sawing off horn and Terramycin spray will be enough. Joel Alves, [08 Aug 2024 at 15:36:52]: Thanks HO. My sentiments as well.
