DEHORNING CATTLE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3336, 3 May 1926, Page 11

DEHORNING CATTLE

TWO TEAKS AGE-lAMIX ADVOCATED. The question of tho dehorning of cattle came up for discussion at Saturday’s meeting of the Manawatu Provincial Executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union. Mr B. S. Gower stated that with regard to the remit which was going forward to the Provincial Conference regarding tho dehorning of cattle, it was his opinion that the ago limit should he raised from 12 months to two years. Mr A. McLeavey said that he had been in the Wairarapa at the last conference when tho matter was discussed. There the general opinion was that two years was the rirght ago. Mr McAlpine sai d that the fixing of the age was due to the fact that heifers coming in at 2 years should bo dehorned before that date. They should be dehorned before they were old enough to damage each other in the milking yard. He agreed that on stations twelve months was perhaps too early. Tho dairy farmer could do the calves when they were a few weeks old, when caustic soda would do all that was necessary.

Mr O. P. Lynch (chairman) said that Mr Gower’s contention was along tho right lines. Young cattle should certainly bo dehorned. As for the older ones, was it not a tact that it was rather cruel?

Mr Gower said that it was possible to dehorn cattle up to any age without doing them any injury. In fact it had been said by dairy farmers that dehorning dairy caws was productive of the best results. After a couple of days they actually gave more milk than ever before. This was due to the animals being more contented, as they were not continually disturbed by being horned. Mr T. D. Clifford agreed with this. After many years of dairying, ha could say that the cows did not go off even temporarily after dehorning. Mr Lynch said that It was pretty well agreed that dehorning was advisable. He had been present at tho Dominion Conference last year when they had been shown leather made from hides injured by horning. It was pointed out by the demonstrator that it was not possible to pick out the defects when the hides were green, but after the hide was tanned tho defect appeared, and the piece of leather had to be out out.

Delegates to the Provincial Conference were instructed to advocate the two years ago limit.