Dehorning of Cattie

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 15

Dehorning of Cattie

To make the dehorning of cattle compulsory throughout New Zealand he hoped to place a Bill before Parliament this session, stated the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, when he was approached on the subject by a deputation in Wellington. The deputation sketched out the clauses of a Bill which it wished the Minister to introduce into the House. The deputation was arranged by the Dominion Federation of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which was represented by the actingpresident, Mr. J. H. Howell, and Mr. W. Bothamley. A similar Bill for compulsory dehorning of cattle had been before the House last session, but was withdrawn in committee; it did not meet the views of the S.P.C.A. or those concerned with stock, it was stated. Accordingly the Minister was asked by the deputation to introduce a Bill embodying the following clauses: “Nothing in the Act shall apply to any animal born before the first day of August, 1934, or to any animal registered in a recognised herd book. Every owner of any bull, cow, ox, steer, or heifer born after the first day of March, 1934, which is more than six months old and is not dehorned, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £lO. In the case of all animals the operation shall be carried out in accordance with methods laid down by regulation under this Act, and any person using another method shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £10.” Great Financial Loss. It was pointed out to the Minister that from all standpoints great financial loss was suffered by the country owiftg to absence of compulsory dehorning. As far as the retail meat trade was concerned there was a loss of 10/- on every beast that was not dehorned, and many butchers would not bid at all for a beast in that condition. The danger caused to cattle was not only due to the hide being perforated, it was stated, but also to the bruising of the meat, and this deterioration was very great in the case of cattle slaughtered for export. It was mentioned that the present Director of the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Lyons, in an address to the Refrigeration Association, had strongly emphasised the fact and more than ten years i ago, Mr. J. A. Young, then Director | of the Division, had urged the importance of dehorning from the same point of view. Evidence was placed before the Minister on behalf of the tanning industry that up to 20 per cent, of the hides from the municipal abattoirs and freezing works were damaged by recent horn marks, and these hides

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

might be depreciated In value by as much as 30 per cent., or even more. Process Almost Painless. From the point of view of prevention of suffering, dehorning was of great Importance because the cattle that were not dehorned Inflicted a great deal of pain on one another. If the dehorning process were carried out properly the pain caused by it was almost negligible. If It were done within six months of birth there was no objection to it whatever on humane grounds. Mr. Macmillan expressed his sympathy with the objects of the deputation, and stated that he did not need to be convinced as to the desirability of the practice, which he had always adopted himself. It remained with the deputation and those who thought with it to convince members of Parliament. He would put the matter before the Prime Minister, and he hoped that he would be in a position to place a Bill before the House during this session.