DEHORNING CATTLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 15

DEHORNING CATTLE

IS THE PRACTICE CRUEL? S.P.C.A. REPRESENTATIVE’S VIEWS. Horns on cattle detract so much from the commercial value of stock nowadays that it seems surprising that a statutory measure should be considered necessary to compel farmers to dehorn calves before they have attained a certain age. Farmers can see for themselves the unprofitable effect of horns when they come to examine the hides which are often scarred and scraped to such an extent that their value is depreciated very considerably. An eloquent illustration of this was shown in a couple of hides that were on view in the Government Court of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. By failing to dehorn, the farmer bad in this instance, lost nearly half the value of his hides. Nor i« that the only part of the animal that suffers from these damaging weapons. In a taob of 105 horned cattle received by rail at one meatworks examination after slaughter showed 31 braised buttocks, 58 bruised sides, 22 bruised shoulders, 33 bruised hips, two bruised legs, one braised back and 15 hern pokes. In this case 42 hind quarters and 26 forequarters were rejected for export. There are divers' ways in which the cattle themselves can, by means of their horns, wreak havoc cn the finances of the farmer, and, as the farmer is generally recognised as the backbone of the coun try, it means a serious loss in the Dominion’s export trade. The only argument that can logically be raised against the practice of dehorn ing is that the operation may be a cruel one, but even that objection falls flat when it is pointed out that the operation may .save a great deal of future suffering in the light of information supplied by those who have studied the practice. With a view to gathering some information on this particular point, our representative interviewed Mr J. Craig, inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, yesterday morning. Mr Craig was emphatically of the opinion that apart from the commercial aspect altogether dehorning should be insisted upon to alleviate the immense amount of cruelty to which cattle are subjected in transit to the saleyards and even at the saley&rds. The animals are often crowded in trucks to such ah extent that it s next to impossible to prevent them from being badly gored, and in many cases some are found to be bleeding profusely, others with horns broken off—a sight to sicken all except the most callous. ‘‘This can all be averted by a very simple means,” Mr Craig said. “All one has to do is to take the young calf at from-10 to 20 days old, tie its head tightly to a post, and rub a stick of caustic potash, the end of which must be wetted, gently on the budding horn. There is no need to bring blood, the spot will get a little red with rubbing. This has been tried on several calves, and none of them ever grew a horn. There is no excuse for dairy people not doing it,” he added, “though it is different ip the case of stud stock. But the measure has got to come. The S.P.C A. has circularised all the farmers unions in New Zealand pointing out the necessity for dehorning, and they have all heartily approved of the idea. I have also spoken to one or two farmers. Many of them agree that it is necessary, but as far as they are concerned the matter ends there.”

“But what about older cattle? Can they be dehorned painlessly?” the reporter asked.

“Well in older cattle the operation is more spectacular than cruel on account of bleeding. The operation, if skilfully performed, is almost instantaneous and the job once done lasts a life time. On the other hand, the saving of an animal from 6hort pain leaves it for the remainder of its life in possession of a weapon with which it can, and generally does, inflict gross cruelty on other animals, and even human beings, whenever in a mood to do so.” According to a Government publication, the best time to dehorn cattle is when the weather is cool and no blow flies are about. Cows should be dehorned when the milking season is over or drawing to an end, and before they are many months in calf. When the animal is young and the horn green it is best to use a clean, 6harp pair of shears. In older animals, and especially where the horns have a broad base, a sharp bone saw should be used. This prevents any chance of fracturing the frontal bones of the head. This is common enough where the horn is very solid, especially if the shears are allowed to get blunt. In selecting a bone saw, one should be got 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 attained.

“If people only tried it for one season I am sure they would never give it up,” Mr Craig concluded. “I know one farmer with from 70 to CD cows that sometimes stand quietly in a yard a little bigger than a fair-sized room, but if even three of those cattle had horns there would be a turmoil at once.”