Dehorning. 



Ul 



Fio. 1. 



in small quantity to 



agents. These illustrations were reproduced from photographs taken 

 in December, 1892. 



Fig. 1 is the head of calf No. 1, growth 

 of horns destroyed by caustic potash paste. 



Fig. 2 is the head of calf No. 2; left horn 

 destroyed by sulphuric acid mixed with 

 sulphur. 



Fig. 3 is the head 



of a calf with horns 



destroyed by stick 



caustic potash applied 

 the embryo horns early 



in life. 



The results of all the 



experiments made at 



this station lead us to 



believe that the use of caustic potash is by 



far the easiest, most humane and most cer. 



tain method of securing hornless cattle. 



The best time to apply preventive reagents 



is early in the life of the animal, just as soon 

 as the little horns can be distinguished by the touch. The manner of 

 applying caustic potash* is as follows: 



The hair should be closely clipped from the skin and the little horn 

 moistened with water to which soap or a few drops of ammonia have 

 been added to dissolve the oily secretion of the skin, so that the 

 potash will more readily adhere to the surface of the horn. Care 

 must be taken not to moisten the skin except on the horn where the 

 potash is to be applied. One end of a stick of caustic potash is dipped 

 in water, until it is slightly softened. It is then rubbed on the 

 moistened surface of the little horn. This operation is repeated from 

 five to eight times, until the surface of the horn becomes slightly sensi- 

 tive. The whole operation need take only a few minutes and the calf 

 is apparently insensible to it. A slight scab forms over the surface of 

 the budding horn and drops off in the course of a month or six weeks, 

 leaving a perfectly smooth poll. No inflammation or suppuration has 

 taken place in any of the trials we have made. The results of these 

 experiments warrant the following recommendations: 



Fig. 2. 



Fig. 3. 



* Caustic potash comes in the form of round sticks about the size of a lead 

 pencil. It may be had at any drug store and should be kept from exposure to 

 the air as it rapidly absorbsjmoisture. 



