8SG Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Are cattle benefited by being dishorned? 



Dr. Smead. — I think it a benefit to dishorn the whole herd; but 

 where one has but one cow I do not know that she will be bene- 

 fited bj it. As a rule, those who have had their herds dishorned 

 are more than satisfied with the results. Indeed, I do not know 

 of a dairyman who has had his herd dishorned who regrets hi» 

 action. 



At what season is it best to dishorn cows? Is It too late now? 

 Mr. Converse. — At any time when the flies are not plentiful. 

 Cut them off now, but don't allow them to go out in the cold. 



What Is the most humane method of dishorning cattle? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — I think the clippers are best. We want to 

 be quick about it, just as we would if we were to have a tooth 

 pulled — we want to have it jerked out as soon as possible. I do 

 not use the saw any more or take the cows out of the stanchions. 

 There is no excitement of the cow, and but little blood to flow. 

 But I know of a cow that bled to death; but it was the fault of 

 the owner. We cut the horn close to the frontal bone, put on 

 carbolized lard, then applied flour. If that does not stop the 

 flow we apply spider's web. 



If a herd of cattle has a cough, is it a sign of tuberculosis? 



Mr. Converse. — That is a symptom, but the animals may not 

 have the diseases. If one of my cows had such a cough I would 

 call a veterinarian. But we have had cows which had such a 

 cough, that did not have tuberculosis at all. 



Is there any visible degree by which we may judge whether a cow has 

 or has not, tuberculosis? 



Dr. Smead. — Yes, when the disease is in an advanced stage; 

 there are signs, but none when the disease is in the incipient form. 

 I would require some external evidence before I would use tuber- 

 culin. It would be an unwise thing to use it, until one had very 

 strong evidence. It has caused the destruction of many animals 

 that have been tested and killed. Upon examination it was found 

 that the tubercles in them were encysted and had become en- 



