The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-15
THE DEHORNINC OF CATTLE
ADVANTAGES FROM A HUMANE
POINT OF VIEW

The Results Justify the Practice
Useless Appendage Which Can
BE PninlessIy Removed--Cnif-
hood IL the Period for the Ac-
con,pIishment OF the Work.
Suggestions by Prof. Lawson.
Humane societies and socie S for the pre-
venticn CT cruelty to ANIMALS, undoubtedly do
q great deal OF coed, in one way and another;
hui it is bare.y Questionable whether, by
rracticing or enforcing upon offers the prac-
tee OF extremes they are not responsible f0r
the supplcmenting of che evil by another
which is greater. A few years ago, the de-
horning of cattle was interdicted by the high
est court o. England, on the ground that the
act was cruelty to animals. But without
doubt the members of the honorable court
went on eating r, asst beef, with hearty relish,
meanwhile pra.sing the juiciness and tender
Eoss of the steer and comp -imentng the de-
ceased upon the sweetness Of his meat and
ifs freedom from too strong animal NAV or;
ard all this without giving any thought to
the physical suffering to which the young
animal was subjected in order to secure tn S
condition so harmonious with the fastidious
taste of beef enjoying people. Indeed, the
individual members of that honorable court
might appropriately be classed with the
tender hearted lady one sometimes encoun-
tiers who lovingly clasps poodle dog to her
bosom and forces leaf sugar books, which it
does not want. into its dear little month,
and at the same time scornfuly ignores the
appeal of a po.r woman with half starving
infant in her a. ms.
Ii is claimed by some experts that the de-
horning of bulls ard heifer calves systematic
ally and scientifically pursued will result,
after q few issues, if they are mated with
one another, in the production of a natural
hornless breed. Be that as 1t may, the ad-
vantages CT dehorning have in late years be-
come so generally recognize that the resu is
seem to justify the practice. Important ad-
vances on these lines have been made in DO h
England and Canada, and at recent con-
florence Of the cattle transit committee in
London the system was generally favored,
though the opinion was unanimous that the
process OF dehorning should be applied when
the animals are calves.
Anyone who is frequently brought into con-
tact with cattle assembled in large numbers
cannot fail to recognize the advantage o.
dehornment. This is particularly impressed
upon one in the sales pens of the stock yard ;
or In witnessing the loading or unloading of
cattle. Under such conditions the animal,
are more or less nervous and irritable, and
frequently they are seen to plunge thei i
prongs into the sides Of one another with a
ferocty that must necessarily infiict rain
upon the victims. However valuable the
horns may have been to the animals in their
wild state, in the period of their earlier ex-
istence, they have long since become, in the
tanned condition of the beast. useless as we'll
nc n 10
or system tending to their removal, either
by natural or artificial processes, would be a
progressive undertaking in keeping with the
advanced ideas of the times
Prof. H. H. Lamson of the New Hamnsbirs
agricultural experiment station, a short time
ago issued bulleting treatin of the prac.
tice OF dehorning in its various phases. This
Is what he says, In part:
Inc horns of cattle consist of two parts of
olnerent origin; the outer horny shell is a
growth derived from the skin: the inner mart
or pith consists of bone, and is an sutgrowth
Of the SKULL s
At the birth of the calf each Of these narts
Is undeveloped, and only exists as a posi-
Dlhty, but they at once begin to grow, and in
snort time the young horn can be felt as a
slight elevation g button.
me horn tissue develops from the skin
Just as do hoofs and claws in the lower ami
mails and nails in human beings. There is a
zone IN the skin about the base of the horn
e aIGwn ara as inc mafrT from which new horn
parts being pushed on. II we destroy the
Psriosteum from which the bony part Of the
nor horn Isl, is formed, and the matrix from which
the horny part is formed we prevent the
further development of the horn. In remov-
ing horns, which are already more or less de-
veioped. as in dehorning mature animals, the
cut must be made deep enough to include the
matrix, or the stump of the horn will con,
tinue to grow. It may not be out of place
mere to remark that there is no danger of
1t lies very deeply. The openings frequently
seen. on removing the horns, are only emp.
ty spaces with which the frontal bone is
honeycombed. -
In calves the growing points of the horns
are small in extent, and can be DESTROYED
with little trouble. In our experiments we
nave made use Of caustio potash: Caustic
substance which constitutes the potash sold
In cans for soap-making and cleansing pur-
poses. II Is IN the form of white sticks in
diameter about the size of an ordinary lead
pencil. As its name indicates 1t is power
full caustic, rapidly destroying the skin and
other tissues if kept in contact with them.
In this property lies it's value as a preventive
of the growth of horns.
When properly applied it destroys the ma
tr1X or growing point of the horny tissue,
the bony pith grows.
The hair should be cut away from the
Young horn as thoroughly as possible, SO
that the potash may come in intimate contact
with the parts to be treated. The oily secre.
ton should be removed from the parts to be
touched with the potash by wiping carefully
with a rag or sponge moistened with soap
suds, or water containing a littel ammonia.
Parts not to be touched should not be moist
ened.
The stick of potash is rolled I'D in a niece
OF paper, so as to leave one end exposed.
The excosed end is dipped in water to moist
en- it, and then rubbed on the button or en-
being taken that the whole of the button and
the border or matrix is included In the treat
ment In young calves few days old a sur
lace half an inch, or a little more, in diane
ter will cover these parts
\Caustlc Potash or caustic soda, which an
swers as well. can be obtained at almost any
drug store. When not in use it should be
kept in a closely-stoppered vial, one with a
rubber stopper preferred or it will liquefy.
After the calf is two or three days old, the
sooner the potash is applied the better.
EXPORTS OF FARM PRODUCTS.
According to the government report just is
sued the condition of our export trade is
hihgly gratifying to the farmers The vol
une OF exports of farm products has in
creased wonderfully during the past year
and no doubt will be the largest in the his
tory OF the country. 1t is said that the fig
ures will reach $500 COO Co., Most of this in
crease was made up of breadstuffs and hoe
products, though beef cattle, which are grow
Ing rapidly in popularity abroad, came in for
a a., liberal share Fresh and sailed meats OF
pared with 1S97.-Drovers' Journal.
SHELTER FOR CATTLE.
In England few subjects of equal impor.
lance to the farmer have occupied less atten.
ton than the provision Of proper shelter for
live stock in the fields. The average English
farmer has great deal to learn. If he could
but appreciate the enormous loss which Is
caused every year on this score alone, we are
hot Iv
stock management out of doors Not little
OF the success which has attended the rear.