DEHORNED CATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1305, 7 December 1911, Page 8

DEHORNED CATTLE.

PRETEXTING THE GROWTH OF ' HOKNS. Sinwi Pietertje Maid Ormsby, the Hoistein cow holding the 30-day world's record, has had her picture so widely published, writes Mr; M, H. Gardiner, of llelcoaji, Wisconsin, in. '.'/Farm and Dairy," several breeders have written as to her lack of horns, one or two commenting unfavourably. As air individual' proposition, . a heat paii- of short,- nicely-, curved, waxy' horns on a. cow's head may be something to be admired. As a general proposition the cow of-to-day has no need of sirch weapons, and if she has them will surely use theui on her mates in. the herd:'and cause more or less loss ;tO the;-own-sr. Ages, ago. when the. ances-' ;%= of Pietertje Maid..QrmSby. ran half wild in the forest's of.'Europe.'it"' was- necessary for the cow to protect her oait iroiu' the depredations of wolves and other beasts, ol prey, and the horns which nature had provided for that purpose were a necessity; but such conditions no ionger exist, and our breeders may well ask themselves as to what useful purpose can be served by horns on the head of a cow. Cows are more quiet and gentle, more companionable with each other in every way when deprived of these weapons. . .". While the removal of horns from dairy herds is,"in most eases, warranted, the process causes much severe pain to the animals which might be avoided. Pietertje Maid Ormsby never had any horns, because their growth was prevented. When a calf of about three weeks old. as soon as. slight swellings showed where the horns' were to be, she was laid on her side and tho hair closely clipped from both swellings. Then the swellings were moistened with water and carefully rubbed with a stick of caustic potash, and the work was. done.