DEHORNING CATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23161, 10 April 1937, Page 2

DEHORNING CATTLE

NECESSARY TO BEEF QUALITY THE BEST METHODS It may take years to induce cattlemen to adopt dehorning as part of the regular routine of the station, but its general practice seems to be only a matter of time. Horns and bruises go together, and a a bruised beef is practically valueless for the export market i we are to develop our meat trade with Britain in face of keen Argentine competition we will have to do as the Argentinians do—dehorn or concentrate on polled breeds (says the Sydney Mail). ■ Dehorning is best carried out on very young calves by chipping out the small horn that has developed. Calves so treated grow up quiet and of a contented disposition, and so may be expected to put on condition better. The method in general practice in Argentina is to take the calves at marking time, that is, between the ages of Jlx and twelve weeks, and chip out the embryo horns with a hammer and chisel, dabbing the wounds with a solution of castor oil and any suitable antiseptic. Occasionally the root of the horn mav not be entirely removed, and an odd beast may be seen in a herd with perhaps one horn. Such horns are tipped before marketing. While there is some difference of opinion as to the advisability of dehorning adult cattle, many authorities state that it can be done successfully and without ill-efTects on the animal. After the horns of calves have reached a certain size it becomes necessary to cut them off. Saws and clippers are the two common implements used for this purpose. The clippers are quicker and less painful to the animal, but the saw does not crush the horn as do the clippers, especially in the

case of old animals whose horns have become hard and brittle. On the other hand, when the saw is used there is not so much bleeding, as the action of the saw causes the blood vessels to be lacerated, and a clot of blood forms quickly. Clippers give very good results with young cattle, but with old animals the saw should be used, as the crushing of the hard bone in an older animal causes the bone to sliver, making a wound which heals very slowly. The loss of blood from older animals will also be more likely to cause trouble than with younger animals. It is much safer to use the saw altogether than to use the clippers altogether. A desirable compromise would be to use the saw on the hard, brittle horns of the older animals, and the clippers on the soft, tender horns of the younger animals. Whichever instrument is used, care should be taken to cut enough of the horn to ensure that unsightly stubs will not grow out. From one-eighth to one-half inch of skin should be taken off to ensure this. When this is done the horn-forming cells are probably destroyed, which prevents further growth of horns. If none of the skin is taken off, the stubs of horns will grow out, and sometimes these growths are almost as effective in hooking as the original horns. Occasionally, too, such a stub will grow down into the eye of the animals, which makes it necessary to perform the operation again. If there is any danger of flies, some fly repellent should be applied to the wound immediately after the animal is dehorped. Either coal tar or pine tails very satisfactory. Both are nonirritating. and adhere well to the skin and the wound. Whichever of these is used, if too thick to apply conveniently, may be thinned with fish oil or linseed oil. Either an ordinary paint brush or a swab ~iade by tying a rag on a stick may be used to apply the tar.