Dehorner Electric X-30

Have dehorned dozen baby goats. Worked just as it should.

I had an X30 for years. Wore it out. It heated quickly and did a fine job. so I decided to upgrade to an X40. Much slower heating and I am not happy. Just ordered another X30 but went to Valley Vet. $74.95 free shipping. Really good iron, but there are better prices elsewhere.

I use it on Nigerian dwarf breed with good results.

Works great, easy to use.

I ordered one of these about 6 months ago and have dissbudded six Nigerian dwarf kids with it so far. It does heat up reasonably fast and is quality made. I plug it in and go get the patient, buy the time I get back its ready to go, ten minutes seems like more then sufficient warm up time. My only real gripes are #1, the tip isnt replaceable and #2, they offer a tip in three different sizes for this model and no one is knowledgeable enough to really help you select the right size before you buy one. As I mentioned, I have dwarf goats, but I ended up buying the standard tip. Its bigger then Id really like, but for what these overgrown soldering irons cost, I cant afford to have more then one size for the time being. Its probably better to have the tip too big then for it to be too small, youll be less likely to have skurs later on down the road. From my experience, it is best to dissbud as soon as you can feel the buds. I have waited a little longer then I would have liked, because I wanted to let the kids get pretty strong before stressing them or subjecting them to any possible infection. The problem with waiting is the skull bone is developing under that horn bud and you cant burn that off, so the sooner you dissbud probably the better if you feel the kid is up to it. I probably could use the smaller tip which will leave a smaller burned area and a flatter skull bone under the bud, but Id have to do the bucklings pretty soon after birth, they develop much faster then the doeings. Ive had bucklings born with pretty prominent buds day one that if I thought they could take it, probably should get dissbudded ASAP. Spray some Blucoat on after you have cauterized any little bleeders if there are any and they will be good to go. Very satisfied with this tool, but I took one star off only because the tip isnt replaceable, thus eventually dooming this to the landfill when it wears out, however I expect it to last a pretty long time. 5 stars if it where serviceable.