Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
I thought I would start a thread for this topic so there is a place for people to search for help when they need it. This is something no one cares about or thinks about until the time they have an issue.
I have only had the need to intervene twice so far for antler damage.
One time I used the pine tar trick and one time I went with the cotton idea.
I don't know how many others have tried this or what luck they may have had if they did try it. But I had a local dairy farmer tell me that an ole' timer told him that when they would cut horns on the cattle they would use cotton balls pulled apart to fill in the hole where the blood was down inside. Then spray over the top of it with some sort of spray to help keep out flies and keep the cotton in place.
Apparently the cotton stops flies from laying eggs or it stops maggots or something like that. That maggots don't like the cotton he said. I was told this back earlier this year when one of my 2 year olds tore his antlers completely off his head. We darted him and instead of using the pine tar trick we tried the cotton idea. I pulled some cotton balls apart and patted thin layers of cotton down into the bloody areas. Then I sprayed the whole area and the neck and ears with Bluecoat. NOTE: Cover the eyes! I sprayed the whole area like that because of the amount of blood he had all over him. Of course I washed off as much blood as possible and dried him off prior to spraying him down.
To our knowledge he did not get any infection or have issues with maggots, and all though it took a long time to start growing again he is growing some now. (He is out about 3 inches right now)
Darn shame because he was off to an incredible start. I think he would have been the real deal based on how he had started and how he finished the year out last year as a yearling. That and what his pedigree is. PJ on a Flees' Butkus/Magnum/Louie which just happens to be the mother to Max Thrust.
I just thought I would throw that cotton idea out there in case anyone has done it, heard of this, or feels the need to try it.
The pine tar idea is coating the area with pine tar to keep the flies and maggots out of the area. The maggots will otherwise get under the velvet and go towards the head and result in a dead buck. The one time I used this method I later had to knock the buck down again to remove the pine tar and the infection that had started under the pine tar and was oozing out from under it. This second doctoring session was about 3 weeks later.
Pine tar can be purchased at a place like Fleet Farm or some type of Hardware supply store.
Each case will be different as to what is the best solution. Sometimes doing nothing is the best solution.
Keep in mind the summer heat when doing this. It is best to do it late in the evening or first light in the morning. Use ice packs between the rear legs to help keep the body temp in check if needed.
We like to use both a good antibiotic like Draxxin or Tetradure and we also use Banamine to help with pain and swelling. I like to give some of the antibiotic subQ and the rest IM.
I know many people have to doctor on their bucks each year. I hope others will share what they do for their bucks when they have these issues.
I have only had the need to intervene twice so far for antler damage.
One time I used the pine tar trick and one time I went with the cotton idea.
I don't know how many others have tried this or what luck they may have had if they did try it. But I had a local dairy farmer tell me that an ole' timer told him that when they would cut horns on the cattle they would use cotton balls pulled apart to fill in the hole where the blood was down inside. Then spray over the top of it with some sort of spray to help keep out flies and keep the cotton in place.
Apparently the cotton stops flies from laying eggs or it stops maggots or something like that. That maggots don't like the cotton he said. I was told this back earlier this year when one of my 2 year olds tore his antlers completely off his head. We darted him and instead of using the pine tar trick we tried the cotton idea. I pulled some cotton balls apart and patted thin layers of cotton down into the bloody areas. Then I sprayed the whole area and the neck and ears with Bluecoat. NOTE: Cover the eyes! I sprayed the whole area like that because of the amount of blood he had all over him. Of course I washed off as much blood as possible and dried him off prior to spraying him down.
To our knowledge he did not get any infection or have issues with maggots, and all though it took a long time to start growing again he is growing some now. (He is out about 3 inches right now)
Darn shame because he was off to an incredible start. I think he would have been the real deal based on how he had started and how he finished the year out last year as a yearling. That and what his pedigree is. PJ on a Flees' Butkus/Magnum/Louie which just happens to be the mother to Max Thrust.
I just thought I would throw that cotton idea out there in case anyone has done it, heard of this, or feels the need to try it.
The pine tar idea is coating the area with pine tar to keep the flies and maggots out of the area. The maggots will otherwise get under the velvet and go towards the head and result in a dead buck. The one time I used this method I later had to knock the buck down again to remove the pine tar and the infection that had started under the pine tar and was oozing out from under it. This second doctoring session was about 3 weeks later.
Pine tar can be purchased at a place like Fleet Farm or some type of Hardware supply store.
Each case will be different as to what is the best solution. Sometimes doing nothing is the best solution.
Keep in mind the summer heat when doing this. It is best to do it late in the evening or first light in the morning. Use ice packs between the rear legs to help keep the body temp in check if needed.
We like to use both a good antibiotic like Draxxin or Tetradure and we also use Banamine to help with pain and swelling. I like to give some of the antibiotic subQ and the rest IM.
I know many people have to doctor on their bucks each year. I hope others will share what they do for their bucks when they have these issues.