DEHORNING OF CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 8

DEHORNING OF CATTLE.

" There is no doubt about tlie efficacy of dehorning for the prevention of cruelty and injuries." These are the words of Veterinarian A. R. Young, N M.R.C.V.S., in the concluding sentence of an article contributed bv him to the Journal of Agriculture. We would that the writer could have seen his way to have written much more strongly on the matter, and pushed the movement in every way. He does not favour compulsory or indiscriminate dehorning, for the reason that "there are many herds where the docility is such as to make this operation unnecessary. The same may be said of single animals, whose timidity' of nature them from using their horns as an offensive weapon." We would fain suggest that, should any attempt be made to stir up these same docile animals, euch as driving them to the stock yards and later on to the_ truckins yards,'that these erstwhile timid ones will prove the most -punishing and dangerous sorts to handle. The advocates for dehorning cattle, it is stated, claim (1) that a herd of cows settle down better after dehorning, thereby increasing the quantity and quality of the milk yield to an appreciable degree: (2) that a large amount of bruising, especiallv in fat stock sent for slaughter, would be avoided by it; (3) that horned cattle inflict unnecessary cruelty upon each other: and (4) that many fatalities to human beings would be prevented by dehorning. This is the first time, by the way, wo have ever heard it alleged that the qualitv of milk yield was affected. Nobody would suggest, as the writer of the article points out, dehorning purebred cattle intended for show purposes for obvious reasons. " In milking herds." says Veterinarian Young, " the result of the dehorning operation

has been observed by him in ten thousand cases. None of the animals died as a result, three slipped their calf, and a few delayed healing up. The milk-supply dropped on an average 31b the first day, regained 21b the second day, and was back to normal the third day. The best time to dehorn adult cattle is in cold weather, when there are fewer flies about to "blow " the stump than would be the case in summer. For cows the most suitable time is when they are about dry and not far advanced in pregnancy. If heavy in calf, there is always a danger of them aborting, due to the excitement or crushing. The operation of dehorning can be performed with a pair of speciallymade sliears; but as these are clumsy to handle, and, when the horn is old, have a tendency to' fracture the base of the horn remaining upon the head, which would cause bad after-effects, Mr Young prefers a good bone saw, one deep enough to go through a large horn without the back coming into contact with the horn ; otherwise a clean-cut under-surface will not be obtained. The method of operating is explained. When a number of cattle are to be dehorned it will be to the advantage of the operator to make, sperial arrangements for holding animals while being operated-upon. An ordinary race ran be used for this purpose, with certain alterations to the breast-bars, one to have a TJ-shaped notch in the centre big enough to hold the windpipe and gullet. This prevents injury to these parts when the top bar, which is fixed upon a bolt at one end, is brought- firmly down upon the upper part of the neck to keep the head steady. The cross-bars behind should be arranged to firmly press upon the hindquarters of the animal, so that it cannot move backwards even a few inches!)- This saves the fingers of the operator, as also his saw, from damage. Having everything satisfactorily fixed up, grasp the horn with the left hand, and, after selecting the part where the dehorning is to take place, begin to saw quietly until » 'tract has been made for the saw. Tht/e is no pain at this stage, as only the nonsensitive part of- the horn is being gone into. Then drive quickly, but do not press the horn downwards more than just enough to relieve the saw, as a clean underneath cut is desirable. The other horn is now similarly treated, and the animal yarded for observation. Where only a bull is to be subjected~-to dehorning, this can be done by securely fixing him to a tree, and using the saw in tho same manner. The correct distance from the head to take off a horn is cut shorter than this a very large -hole is ieft exposed on the head; if' longer f the i animal will still find a use for the stump as an offensive weapon. The operation being finished, the yarded animals should be examined, and any case of, excessive bleeding attended to by. the application of tar. After-treatment is seldom required unless in- hot weather, when in all cases tar should be applied to the stump. Where it is found that dirt has got into the head, causing suppuration, the cavity should be syringed out with water, in which has been added some disinfectant. After all cattle axe dehorned chiefly to prevent them from injuring one another through goring. The injury inflicted by cattle on one another when confined In small yards is serious indeed at times, while it is not at all an uncommon happening to find cases of injury as the. result of driving to saleyards or during trucking. Bulls may well be a less source of danger if dehorned, althougn the polled breeds of cattle are dangerous enough at times in spite of their hornlessness.