Update on Safe and Painless Calf Disbudding

An Update on Calf Disbudding for 2026

At Gippsland Veterinary Group, we’re proud to offer painless calf disbudding under sedation - a service designed to make the process as stress-free as possible for both calves and clients. Our team is committed to providing this important management procedure in a way that’s gentle on the calves, easy for farmers, and adheres to best safety practices.

Looking ahead to next season, we’ll be aiming to complete the majority of our disbudding when calves are between 2-4 weeks of age. At this age, we can use hand-held disbudders, which are quick, efficient, and most importantly, produce significantly less smoke than larger gas units.

This change reflects our ongoing commitment to health and safety - for our staff, our clients, and your animals. Disbudding is often carried out indoors, and minimising smoke exposure helps protect the respiratory health of everyone involved. Less smoke also means less airway irritation for the calves, reducing unnecessary stress and supporting better animal health outcomes.

We appreciate your continued support as we refine our services to deliver the best possible results for your animals - safely, efficiently, and with their comfort in mind.

If you’d like to discuss timing for your calves this season or book a visit, please get in touch with your local GVG clinic.