DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 13

DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Sir, —I have been surprised to learn that the Society for the Prevention ot Cruelty to Animals is the prime mover in the attempt to make dehorning ot ail cattle compulsory. If this is correct then all I can say is that they surely cannot have seen the operation performed. And I would suggest that before they move any further in the matter they make a point of seein' the job done. If after seeing it they still onsider there is no cruelty then I maintain they are not fit to occupy their positions in the society. I wish to make it quite clear that I think all dairy cattle should be dehorned, owing to the necessity for constant yarding. But this does not apply to beef cattle. I feel so strongly in regard to this matter that rather than have to dehorn our cattle I would go out of the cattle business altogether. Quite ftpart from the humanitarian aspect of thii matter. I maintain that when a horned animal has lost his horns much of his character also has gone. For instance, when judging stud cattle, the set and colour of the horns are important points. In a dehorned animal how are these points to be decided? I consider that the dehorning of beef breeds of cattle should be left optional, and I say that anyone who advocates compulsion for this class of animal either doesn’t know what it means or is no true friend of the cattle. The only humane way of dehorning is to prevent the horns growing as calves.—l am, etc., G. F. MOORE. Bushy Park, October 30, 1929.