The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 1896. THE DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2079, 18 August 1896, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 1896. THE DEHORNING OF CATTLE

A great deal of sentimental rubbish and false argument is being used in condemning the dehorning of grown cattle, and the sooner the subj* -;t is more fully ventilated and understood by the general public the better. We don't believe that a single farmer who has tried dehorning has a word to say against it. It is a most humane operation, and for every twinge of pain it inflicts, it saves many hours of misery and agony. Here on the Peninsula it was first practised by the large stock owners on beef cattle. The. result was so exceedingly good—the dehorned cattle flourishing exceedingly—tbat the more advanced and thoughtful dairy farmers introduced the practise in their milking herds, and in a few years the custom promises to be universal.

Speaking of the operation itself, which is', written of as inflicting such terrible agony, we are of opinion, after careful watching, that the pain is sharp, but short The sawing of the horn has been ridiculously compared to the sawing of a tooth, but the writer is completely ignorant on the subject. Tbe cutting of the horns of cattle is precisely the same operation as the cutting of human finger and toe nails. There are no nerves in the horn, and it is quite callous. This of course only refers to the horn itself. The pith, which is cut through in dehorning cattle, is highly sensitive, and sharp momentary agony is inflicted when the dehorning instrument passes through it. This, however, is only the matter of a second or two, and, with the operation, all pain seems to cease. The head is at once dressad with tar, and the beast turned out, and we can assert distinctly tbat in most cases the so called tortured animal commences feeding within ten minutes of the operation—often five— as if nothing had happened. Old milk ing cows may give a little less milk at the milking immediately following dehorning, but the verdict is unanimous that in no case has the effect lasted longer than one single milking all sub-

sequent, ones showing, if anything, an increase in tbe flow of milk. There are of course different methods of dehorning pursued. Some prefer clippers made specially lor the purpose, but many dairy farmers prefer the knife in the treatment of quiet dairy cattle. They declare thit where the new horn grows each year near the head, there is a peculiarly thin ring, through which the knife glides with great ease, making tbe operation exceedingly speedy

It, is surely evident from' what we have recorded as the uncoloured result of Peninsula experience, tbat the pain caused by dehorning is only momentary, for no beast will feed whilst undergoing great suffering, and the least injury lessens tho produce from a dairy cow. The sole thing to be said against the pmctise, therefore, is th«t sharp momentary pain is inflicted—such a pain, however, as is not for a moment to b'3 compared with the agony of adult castration. On the other side, the benefits are enormous > Cattle are of as many different dispositions as human beings : some are placid and good tempered, others hot and fiery. . Many have such evil tempers that they are never so happy as when horning their less combative fellows ; and the misery they inflict wi'h the weapons which nature gave them as a defence against wild beasts, is very great. One dairy farmer tells us of four head of his cattle horned to death—that is, dying of injuries that commenced with their being horned—in one single season. Others tell us of the great quantity of milk annually spoilt from this cause by the udder or flank being lipped, and tbe milk rendered v .fit for use. As to fat and dry cattle, we should like those lalso humanitarians whocondemi the practise to be pivsent when horned cattle are jammed into railway trucksi The bleedng flanks, fevered eyes, and generally wretched appearance of tbe poor beasts when crushed into a confined space with a ra ing, ill-tempered brute, armed with useless weapons, never intended to out last his dom sticity, is a more painful sight by far to us than all the dehorning yards in the colony; and if tbe law is invoked at all it should be in he direction of abolishing these horrors by insisting on the universal practise of dehorning. Thatthe operation shoul Ibe performed when cattle are young, so that less pain is inflicted is a good idea, but unfortunately for some years to come at least we shall have to do with fullgrown homed cattle, and in our opinion the sooner these suffer the so called agonies of dehorning the better tor themselves and all concerned in them.

We could say much store on the subject, but space forbids. One hist remark, however, we cannot refrain from, and that is the extraordinary pffec lehorning has on the temper nt a quarrelsome brute. We know an instance ol a young bull that, attacked and nearly killed his owner- The beast wis too valuable to destroyed, «nd the f-fToc of dehorning was tried with Ihe b.'st results. From that hour to this he has never exhibited any combative qualities, whilst his rapid growth and magnificent condition testify to his perfect happiness and content.