Dodge City times., 1888-04-19
DEHORNiNG CATTLE.
Advantages and Rapid spread Of the NOV
PopulaP Practice.

Advantages ana Rapid spread Of the Nov
Popular Practice.
have had occasion to travel some in
McHenry County and other parts Of
Northern Illinois and Southern Wiscon-
sin. and am much struck with the
.arge number of herds of cattle that
have had their horns cut Off In a rite
of thirteen miles did not see q single
ler,l that were not artificial polls. This
seems remarkable. especially when we
remember that this innovation is SO
recent in its origin. This of itself is an
argument in favor of removing tho
horns of our cattle.
The matter comes up for discussion
at nearly every one of the Wisconsin
farmers institutes and there is hardly
man who has practiced dehorniny
who is not emphatic in its recommen-
datiOn. The arguments urged are:
Fist. it prevents those frequent and
terrible accidents which result from tho
use of horns by some vicious animal
Secondly, it is affirmed that dehOrned
cattle can be turned lose in she d OF
stall. and though quite crowded they
will do well and make far better gain
than when tied up as they must be un-
less dehorned. Thirdly, it is asserted
that dehorning is not u serious opera.
ton. 1t is even said that the cattle
seem to object to the confinement OF
their heads even more than to the act.
ual saving off of the horns. More than
this. it is said that the animal goes to
eating at once after the operation, and
does not fall off at all either in condi.
ton or milk in consequence. 1t is
urged that dehorning is far less pain.
fnl than other operations universally
practiced; indeed. some enthusiasts ~
sert as their opinion that the animal is
really the gamer by the operation; that
the worry and actual suffering caused
by hooking are more than that caused
by cutting of the horns.
The general expression is that it a
far better to dehorn after the first year
in the spring of the second year Of
the life of the animal. 1t hurts the
older animal much less. and there is
then no danger of the horns starting
out again. 1t is stated that to make
the work satisfactory with calves i
piece of the skull must be gougel out.
This seems to hurt the calf cruelty.
This is as we should expect. In the
calf the growth and activity OF the part
are very great. and of course the larger
number of nerves required add, greatly
to the sensitivcness. We can read "
believe that when the horn is com.
pleted organ, both nerves and con>e.
quent sensitiveness would be at mini
mum. The practical conclusion is. not
to dehorn an animal till the horns are
in the way of the best comfort and
thrift Of the herd. us the later the opera.
ton the less the pain, up to the time
when the horn is practically con-
pleted growth.
To dehorn the animal, it is placed in
stanchions or its head is Otherw Sc mada
fast Then the horns are sawed of
close to the hair. Here there is II softer
place. and less pain is caused. Then
very little blood will escape. AMI the
animal will show almost no disturb.
ance. There are very few obj c;Ors ut
the institute; the arguments used by
those who object are looks and c:leltt.
The first is certainly valid objecti"a
in case one has u ii ne herd OF Shora.
horns or Herefords. The seconl one
seems not valid in the light of the tcs
timony of such men as Prof. Henry an,
many others who have tried the pr;,c.
tice. Prof A. j. Cook. in R.rG AeL
Yorker