The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-23
DEHORNING CATTLE.
The Methods Employed as Set Forth
by Il High Authority,

The following letter written by bureau
chief Of the Department Of Agriculture
at Washington, to a gentle man III Amelia
county, on the subject OF dehornlnS, VIII
be read with interest by many stock
raisers who are anxious to adopt the
methods practced with much success IN
the handling of stock IN other States.
There are several dehorning prepara-
tons. OF compounds, that have been IN
popular use. Among the most satIsfac-
tory compounds. probably, is that com
posed OF the following: Fifty per cent.
caustic soda, twenty-five per cent. kero-
sene twenty-five per cent. water; an
emulsion is made of the kerosene and
soda by heating them together and while
vigorously stirring, add the water. Caus-
tic soda and caustic potash have also
been largely used. Both of these come in
the form of sticks. ana must be handled
with care, they dissolve the cuticlc
and make the fingers sore.
1T is Il good plan to wrap the stick OF
caustic soda or caustic q potash the
case may be, in d piece of paper, covering
enough of it to protect the fingers. Dip
the uncovered end in water and rub it on
the horn buttons when the calf is from
three to five days old--first one and then
the other, mcisJening the stick each time
allowing it to dry, and rubbing again, oc-
cupving in all about five minutes for each
animal. Care should be taken not to have
too much moisture on the stick of caus-
tic: as, if it runs down, it is apt to eX-
coriate the surrounding skin.
The emulsion is used in the same wav
except that it is applied with short, stiff
brush. several applications being made,
allowing it to dry after each applicat ton
occupying about five minutes on each
calf.
In the successful use of these pre-
parations to prevent the horns growing.
it is necessary that they should be an
piled before the calf is more than a week
old. From three to five days of age is
preferable. In dehorning calves three
weeks to month oid-this can be done
by a single stroke of the knife. as the
horn is quite soft. In dehorning adult
animals it is best to use one of the de-
horners made by the manufacturers of
veterinary surgical Instruments among
whom are the following: John Reynders
& Co.. No. sos Fourth Avenue, New
York; Jacob T. Teufel & Brother, No To-;
South. Tenth Street. Philadelphia. Pa:
Haussmann & Dunn. No. 10 Randolph
Street, Chicago. H.; Leavitt Manufacture
ing Company, Tuscoa. ILL.,: the keystone
DehorninS Knife, made by NJ. r. Phillips
Pomeroy, Pa.
cattle satisfactorily with good sharp
meat saw or butchers saw. in the hands
Of a good mechanic. The head of the
animal is snubbed up to the horizontal
bar at the upper end of the stanchions
and the horns-1irst one and then the
other-are sawed off just a little below
where the skin adjoins the base of the
horn. In combining the head of the ami
NAL the rope should be held by an assist
ant. SO that. If necessary the animal can
be partly released.
1T is very rarely, however that they
can injure themselves, even should they
throw themselves down during the pro-
cess.
There are men in the dairy districts.
such as Orange county. New York. who
go from farm to farm lehorning animals
in this manner and charge. only five
cents per horn There are a number OF
men in that section who do this work.
and I am not aware that any Of them use
a dehorner. The instrument. however.
made for the purpose. if a good one is
preferable to the use of the saw. because
the horns can be removed more quickly.
and the sufferings and struggles of the
animal are less prolonged
Very respectfully.
ID. Il. SALMON.
Chief of Bureau.