The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-08
SEoCE

A veterinary surgeon came into the
yard, tied a young heifer's head to a
strong post, then with a pair OF queer
looking shears shipped her horns IF IN
a twir king. The blood spurted for a
few 10 rments, the heller shook her
head "A few times, then she began eat
ing grass again. The sight Of the blood
mace IN acquaintance, who happened
to be present, declare emphatically
that he would have no such ''butchery"
in his yard.
The veterinarian pointed out the ad-
vantages Of the practice, especially
calling his attention to the fact that
the horns are weapons that serve no
useful purpose, while they provide a
vicious animal with means Of doing
irreparable mischief; also, that the
pain attending the operation is but
momentary and the loss OF blood in
significant, but he still declared it
out ;hery" and he would have none
o. 1t.
About three weeks later / met the
veterinarian on the road. Just de-
horned cur friends clttle," said he.
Whats the matser2" 1 asked; what
under the sun caused him to change
mis- mind so quickly 2" oh, he wss
milking yesterday morning aud @ lit 70
Jersey playf4ly split his shirt from
top TO bottom, aad made g cash about
four inches long in his b.ck. He will
have co lie on his stomach a week or
so. If the little thing had ,obed in
stead of tossed, he would not have
come off so lucky. Dahorned ten head
for Mr.. B. last week. He was bitterly
opposed to such work until q COW
jabbed her sharp horn into the side OF
one of his best sows and killed her. As
| told u friend, weapons are not of
the slightest use in a time OF peace,
while they are always dangerous. l
asked a neighbor of B g to let me de.
horn his bull, but he declined, saying
he would saw the little sharp tips off
himself and the animal would be safe
enough. He neglected to saw, and the
bud KILLED a fine mule for him; and
whsn he ran to drive him q away with a
fork the bull chased him over a barbed
wira fenca. II he hadn't bacn as active
as q cat the beast would have got him,
sure!'
In view of the many sad accidents
that are, constantly happening and the
in aries that are inflicted almost dairy
by useless horns, it seems strange that
farmers will allow their cattle to carry
them. One Of my aCq I~aintarces cuts
them out with a ack knife, like one
would cut out a rotten spot in an apple,
when the calf is three to five months
old, and, if we r to judge by it's &C.
tons, the pain inflicted by the opera
tion is very slight. The calf will drink
its milk or suck the COW the next
minute and then caper about as If
nothing had happened.
OF all the hundreds Of farmers Ihave
met who practice dehorning I do not
know n VINO would for a moment
permit a horned animal in his yards.
Said one:
Il should feel uneasy every moment
SUCH an animal was aE large in my
herd, and I should expect that every
person that came u to tie field was
bringing tidings about some evil il
ficted by those horns.'
mo, sir" exclaimed another farmer.
who keeps a large herd Of cattle, no
horned animal can ever come into nv
yards. Since their horns were re-
moved my cattle feel together like
sheep. They feed better, grow faster
and fatten quicker without horns,
while I have no accidents, no wounded
animals, no loss Fred Grundy, Nor
risonvilie, ILL.,, in Epitomist.