DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20986, 14 October 1933, Page 18

DEHORNING OF CATTLE

A BELATED REFORM THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION After more than a decade of discussion the Government is at last proposing to make compulsory the dehorning of cattle. Perhaps a reform of this sort should be given every opportunity for discussion. If so the authorities cannot be charged with rushing matters. Anyone who attends cattle sales cannot help but be impressed with the placidity of the dehorned animals compared vith that of the others, a placidity which makes for their better appearance and improved selling value. The New Zealand cattleman who is somewhat sceptical of the benefits of the reform might take note of what is being done elsewhere. In the United States, which can be considered as tne largest and one of the most advanced cattle countries in the world, the great majority of breeds are either polled or the horns are removed either when calves or when matured, while polled mutations within horned breeds are welcomed to such an extent that there are millions of naturally polled cattle of the recognised horned breeds like Friesians, Jerseys, and Brown Swiss, etc. It can be stated without fear of contradiction that 80 per cent, of the cattle of the United States are polled. Main Advantages. The- main advantages of hornless cattle may be summarised as follows: — i (1) The safety of human and animal life. A vicious polled cow or bull can only inflict a severe bump or trample one underfoot, while comparatively few stockmen survive the goring of a horned bull. (2) The contentment and peace of mind which results from security from painful horn-scoring and death-dealing pokes. These add very largely to the health and economic value of the herd. (3) Economy in herding, handling, and transportation. All operations, such as branding, ear-marking, castrating, inoculating, and dehorning, are painful to the animal in varying degrees, but the arts of husbandry and veterinary science have advanced to such a degree that it is now possible to carry out these operations with- greater dexterity; and the suffering can be reduced to a minimum. In Canada a premium is given—or was at latest advice;—for hornless beef cattle. Dehorning might detract from the appearance of the Ayrshire or the

Hereford, but not from their utility. On the other hand, the horned Jersey bull is periodically responsible for a tragedy. This vicious little animal is an ideal subject for dehorning—or dishorning, in the case of the calf. To Prevent Horns Growing. When circumstances are favourable, as in the case of farmers who build up their herds by raising the progeny, the horns may be prevented from growing by a simple and practically painless method, and the custom of preventing the growth of the horns is becoming more popular and more generally practised under all conditions except in the case of calves dropped on the back country. The calf should be treated not later than one week after its birth, preferably when it is from three to five days old. The agent to be used may be either caustic soda or caustic potash, both of which may be procured in the drug stores in the form of sticks about the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil and five inches long. These caustics must be handled with -care, as they dissolve the cuticle and may make the hands or fingers sore. The preparation of the calf consists in first clipping the hair from the parts, washing clean with soap and warm water, and thoroughly drying with a cloth or towel. The stick of caustic should be wrapped in a piece of paper to protect the hands and fingers, leaving one end of the stick uncovered. Moisten the uncovered end slightly and rub it on the horn buttons or little points which may be felt on the calf's head, first on one and then on the other, alternately, two or three times on each, allowing the caustic to dry after each application. Be very careful to apply the caustic to the horn button only. If it is brought in contact with the surrounding skin it will cause pain. Be very careful also not to have too much moisture on the stick , of caustic, as it will remove the skin!

if allowed to run down over the face. After treatment, keep the calf protected from rain, as water on the head after the application of caustic will cause it to run down over the face. This must be carefully avoided. Dehorning: Adults. The problem for many a farmer to face is what will happen to his dehorned calves when they grow up and mix with the horned cattle he already has on his farm. In this eventuality tne hornless animal will be completely at the mercy of those which are horned and will suffer accordingly. For the sake of the defenceless animal he has therefore either to dispose of his horned cattle or to use the most skilful and painless method of dehorning them. The contrary is perhaps true of the different countries in Europe, but there, owing to the density of population, cattle propositions are carried out in such a small and intensive scale that expert management largely prevents the obnoxious and dangerous possibilities and risks of keeping horned cattle. But even in these old and conservative countries, owing to the advance made in the art of husbandry, the polled condition of cattle is becoming increasingly popular. The predominance and success of the establishment of polled breeds in the United States are due directly to that nation's proverbial appreciation of increased values, saving of labour, simplicity and efficiency of management—and, above all, lowered cost of production. All these very desirable factors are most vitally connected with the management and propagation of polled cattle.