DE-HORNING OF CATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 11

DE-HORNING OF CATTLE

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER DIFFICULTIES TO BE FACED. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 29. Suggestions urging the introduction of a Bill to provide for the compulsory destruction of the horn core on calves and proposals relating to slaughtering methods and the bobby calf industry were placed before the Minister of Agriculture (Mr C. E. Macmillan) by a deputation from the Federated New Zealand Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals today. Replying to the representations, the Minister said that there were practical difficulties in the dehorning proposals. Stud cattle would have to be exempted, and the proposals could not be enforced with run cattle. He thought that the federation was unduly sensitive concerning the process of dehorning grown cattle. It had been said that it was like having a tooth out. The Minister said he thought that the tagging of bobby calves would not meet with much approval. The proposal to compel calves to be sent to the nearest abbatoirs would elminate competition. He could npt give a definite answer to the deputation’s request without further consideration of the question. The slaughtering proposals wore highly technical and he would refer them to the Director-general of the department (Dr C. J. P.eakes).

The Minister gave an undertaking to have a Bill on dehorning drafted, and said he would refer it to the Prime Minister to see whether there would be time to proceed with it this session.