THE PROCEDURE EXPLAINED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3441, 10 March 1932, Page 6

THE PROCEDURE EXPLAINED.

The procedure to be followed in dehorning bulls is set out in the followletter from Mr. A. Boyd, of Pfni Kan Station, Gisborne: — “Where a properly constructed stockyard is available it usually takes no time getting the animal into the headbail. To prevent him plunging backward or forward he should be leg-roped with the rope fastened in such a way that in the event of the animal’s slipping and falling down a single pull on the rope will release him.

“Where a forward or ground ring is not available a two-inch hole should be bored at the base of the head-block in front of the bail and a short piece of two-inch piping inserted. An ordinary bull halter with side rings is best to use. Fasten a rope to one ring under the chin and through the other ring. Then pass under the twoinch piping through the opposite ring and draw the bull’s head tightly down over the block and away from the slipbars. A rope may also be fastened from the bull’s head to either side of the bail to prevent him from shifting his head from one side to the other. All ropes fastened must be quickly releasable. The animal is then held as in a vice."The best instrument to use is hot a quick-acting dehorner but a good sharp saw, as this appears to be to make a cleaner job. “Where no dehorning bail is available the animal may be thrown. The simplest way to throw a young bull is to get him into a small yard along with a few cows, or quiet young stock. Put a bull grip with a shorter piece of rope attached in his nose and fasten a legrope to his off fore leg. Get an assistant to but him from behind and as the bull moves forward draw his head round quickly, pull hard on the legrope, and give a slight push with the shoulder and if the operator knows his job the bull usually goes over without any trouble. The assistant must get on to his neck quickly so as to hold him down while the thrower binds him up. the rope already fastened to the fore leg being of sufficient length to fasten up all four legs securely.

“An older and stronger bull may be thrown with the body rope and double hitch; but it requires more than two men to do it this way.”