The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-22
The Dehorning Process.

as briefly as possible. my Own prepare
ton, for Gehorning cattle, the mos
important of which is "A secure faster
Ing ri the animal In fore commencing
. Tie best thing | know of for this pun
pose is S;auncheOn with ole sii
loose and he other made solid. Til
two pieces should be made of som
strong material (ciear pine will dol. tv,
by eight, with All oval opening, Gu
half in each piece, the bottom of whicI
should br ab Ut twenty-five to twenty
our inches from the level upon Whicl
the animal is Ia stand. if for gown eat
lie. and prOpOrtIouately lower f.
smaller animals. This oval ! Woui,
make about seven inches horizontally
and about twelve inches vertically. &,
that il will fit with reasonable snug
ness the animals neck. about six
inches back of the head. allowing room
for turning the head To either side.
This arrangement VIII prevent 3
raising up or throwing down Of tie
head. Tie only other fastening nects.
saIy is good strong. fye-eighth rope
in one end OF which should be securely
fastened TWO and "A half or 3-inch di-
amtter strong wruughi-iron ring.
After the animal IS in the staunch-
ion. take this rnre. throwing it around
| the animals neck, passing the plain
| end once through the ring, making
a slipnouse, then pass it around The an
mails nose, and back again through the
ring. forming another slip-noose. The
last will prevent the first from choking
the animal.
Make some suitable arrangement near
tie level of the animals feet. about
three feet distant nn each side, in which
20 tie this rope; tie the rope to this,
drawing the animals head far enough
in that direction TO hold it perfectly So
cure duri"g the operation. This will
throw the horn You wish to take off al
most at right angles with the line of
the stauchlOn, aud allow the free use of
the saw. After removing this horn.
unite the rope and tie it upon the OppO-
site side, reversing thu position of the
head and placing the other horn in like
easy position to be removed. Perform
the OPERATION rs quickly a. possible.
The only tool necessary is a good,
sharp. fine-tuOlh saw. ten teeth to the
inch. which should be kept very sharp.
H. a previous article gave my opin-
ion of The best place to cui to prevent
the formation and growth of stub
horn, but perhaps il would not be amirs
to repeat t here. They should he cut
close enough to the head To get beyond
the base or beginning of the outside
shell or hard case uf the horn. To do
this il viii sometimes land | might say
very otten) be found necessary TO saw
near enough TO the head to take off
some hair and skin with the severed
horn.
As to the time OF wear the operation
should he performed. would say there
is but one thing to avoid, and that is Il
time of the year when the green flies
Will deposit their eggs, though | would
not like To perform the operation at a
time when the mercury is liable to go
below zero. without covering the place
left raw. | have used strong muslin
covered with pine tar 10 cover these
with
\ veterinary surgeon suggested to
me thai it would be good thing in very
cold weather or in very warm, us well. |
To take pieces of cotton batting about |
four inches square, covering one side |
with pine tar, and Put upon each |
stump" aud faSten both to their pla- |
ceS by IA strip of strong muslin, four or |
five inches wide, passed around The |
poll ami tied under the throat-latch. as |
a preventive of cold, and equally good |
IN summer 10 protect against flies.
A few of my cattle were troubled |
with flies. | tired carbolc acid diluted,
with some. and spirits of turprHtine |
upon others. The first of these WAS a |
failure. the last served the double pur |
pose of killing the maggOts and assist
ing To heal the soreness, and was per- |
feet success. This is all that there is |
to The operation or the preparation |
therefor.
At the close of the war twas favor |
ite remark of Horace Greeley's upon |
the financial question of the way to re-
sumo specie payment, is Ito resume"
Equally pertinent upon the subject of |
is, the way to take the horns |
off of your cattle is to take them off.
Hon. William Roe, OF this county. |
writes me in private lie ter; Il to * |
the horns off of all my cattle last No
and they are now the best be-
hayed lot in the county. Dehorning IS !
a success"
am fully persuaded that no stock |
grower, having once tiled it. and know
ing its beneficial results. will thereafter |
neglect #.
My own experience with my stock |
cattle has been SO satisfactory in this !
matter that propose to remove the |
horns from all me breeding cattle this |
spring, a thing have been waiting to
do until | was thoroughly satisfied of
it's ACCESSIBILITY and profit. Having |
now had two years experience with all
ages of cattle. from four weeks to four
years of age. am satisfied with the
result. and could hardly be classed
with the new converts to the theory.
IT would be q great Leueilt 10 those
this practice to haze It's
advantages resulting from the expert
ence of others sci forth through the
medium ofyour valuable paper. While
[ do not claim to be Very proficient i'll it
| will Uheerfully answer any questions
relating to dehorning your readers may
desire to ask.
Among hog-raisers of Illinois there
used to be "A remark applied to long
nOSed breeds of hogs like this: 1T
takes five bushels of corn to fatten one
of their tails" My own experience is
that it takes from twenty-five bushels
of corn and upward to raise and fatten
a pair of horns upon a steer.
GEO Y. JOHNSON.