Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-05-31
How to Dehorn the Cattle.

Ol IdTuleFS, ana especially udlI yuieu,
in this section of the country were al
most unanimously opposed to taking
of the horns from their cattle. II
was called barbarous practice and
declared TO be the worst kind OF
cruelty to animals. At that time the
saw was used, and it was barbar-
GUS piece of business TO tie an animal
down and take several minutes to saw
off the horns. | tried the saw on Just
one young bull, and was careful and
quick as possible, but the pain the an
imal suffered was too much for me to
consent ever to use the saw again;
the clippers for me whenever | sepa-
rate bull or COW from its horns.
says a writer In the Country Gentle
man. There is a growing sentiment
in favor of keeping dairy cows fas-
tened in the stanchions only during
feeding and milking time. If the dali
ryman has a covered barnyard or
large open shed in which to turn the
COWS loose during a good portion of
the time, he is providing Cow com
fort" in the full acceptation of the
term. And in so doing the cows are
pretty sure to keep up their milk flow
to their normal standard during the
full period of lactation.
One of the first things to do with a
herd of cows that one expects to turn
loose In small Enclosure is to take
off every horn in the herd. 1t is not
necessary for the average dairy farmer
to employ an expert to dehorn his cat
tie, but he should never allow a saw
to be used. The double-acting, dia-
mond-shaped clippers are the things to
use every time. Some farmers hate
to attempt the job, even when they
have good pair of clippers. The
first time tried the clippers, | "wrig-
gled all over" for fear something
would happen And Something" did.
had bull that was getting ugly, and
finally determined to divest him en-
tirely of his horny appendages. The
next night after the clippers came,
hour or two tryig TO decide that his
buliship's horns must come off the
next morning. After a good break
fast, which seemed to stiffen my back.
bone, made Decline for the clip.
pers and then for the bull. | used a
pair of nose pincers, with II feet of
three-eights-inch rope, which gave a
good grip on the bulls nose. The
hired man was rather nervous also,
and kept at a good distnce until the
supreme moment arrived. Then he
spat on his hands and bravely waded
in to my assistance.
took a hitch around big post
and pulled the bulls head around to
his right side close to his body, while
| stood at his left hip. He soon
quoted down, and the hired man now
thrown back and his chin high in the
air. He soon got hold of the rear end
of the rope with fear and trembling,
also with both hands. | opened the
quickly adjusted the opening over and
close down to the base of the left
horn. Assuming a bracig position,
with my hands at the ends of the
handles, | drew long breath, closed
my eyes, set my teeth, muttered a
very brief prayer, and jerked the
handles together suddenly with all
the force could muster for the occa.
sion. | quickly went to grass ac'
companied by the clippers and one
horn. Even now it Is hard to ten who
was the more surprised, the Bull or
myself.
ness was leaving my knees, | cheer
fully watched the hired man and the
bull doing physical culture stunt /
then went to the assistance of both
and We soon had the bulls head
brought around to the other side. II
took but minute to get the other
horn off slick and clean, and it came
so easy that even the bull was sur.
prised to find that he had got out OF
the scrape so easily and he doubt
less considered it a hair-breadth es
cape. The hired man and | looked al
each other for a moment with reassur
ing and Il told you SO" smiles; then
each complimented the other on mis-
bravery in the scrimmage We were
really surprised at the ease and quick
ness of the operation, and the bull
suffered less than you or | would in
having a tooth extracted. 1t was
much harder thinking about II and
getting ready than doing the job
Since that time have taken off the
horns OF hundreds of cattle of ali
kinds, and never had an accident OF
lost an animal. 1t is a good plan for
every dairyman who keeps large
herd of cattle TO have pair of good
sharp clippers on hand, and to use
them whenever the emergency arises
Proper Care of the Cows.