DISHORNING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3241, 11 December 1930, Page 2

DISHORNING.

LESSONS FROM ELSEWHERE. The agitation so much in evidence a few years ago in New Zealand in regard to the dehorning or “dishorning” of cattle, seems to have completely died down, but the reform is not being lost sight of in a number of other countries.

In one of the series of “Talks to Producers,” the Ministry of Agriculture for Sorthern Ireland impresses on farmes the fact that hornless store cattle bring the best prices; and they advise the dishorning of all horned calves at an early age. We reproduce the leaflet in full:—

“Useless or unprofitable adornments are at the best of times luxuries, but when their presence actually reduces the selling value of a commodity they ane luxuries of an expensive kind. Horns on store cattle are useless adornments. They lowered the selling value of the animals they adorn, and, accordingly they are the means of lowering the profits of the farmer. They may, therefore, be justly described as expensive luxuries. The average breeder and rearer of store cattle cannot afford such luxuries, and even if he could, a luxury which would help, rather than hinder, industry, should be selected, i “The purchasers of store cattle want hornless beasts, and if they cannot get them from Northern Ireland they will look for them elsewhere. Accordingly, unless this" demand is met by breeders our valuable export trade in store cattle will be seriously endangered. Since the prices purchasers are prepared to pay for hornless cattle are at least £1 per head more than for horned beasts of similar quality, the removal of the horns is a very profitable operation. Not only are hornless stores a national necessity, but they bring a higher

price, and so leave a greater profit to the breeder and rearer.

“The dishoning of cattle is a simple and inexpensive operation if done at the right time, which is before the calves are ten days old. A slight rubbing of the horns with caustic potash at this stage prevents further growth, and calves so tieated will be hornless throughout life. The cost of dishorning by the method, including labour, is not more than one penny per calf. One stick of caustice potash, costing a few pence, will dishorn several calves. No skill is required in using it, but do not forget that the treatment must be carried out before the calf is ten days old.

“Think of the small cost of dishorning and then of the increased value of the hornless animal. The cost is one penny, and the extra value is one pound—a certain 240 to 1 winner! Are you backing it?”