Rural School Leaflet 12 17 



pick their own living without some extra food; therefore it seems best to 

 feed them in the bam during the first summer. Moreover, in the day- 

 pasture, flies ])lague them so that they do not grow well. 



Dehorning calves. — In herds where it is desirable that all the animals 

 be dehorned, the best time to dehorn calves is before they are three weeks 

 old. This may be done by rubbing the little nubs of horns with a stick 

 of caustic potash, which may be purchased at any drug store. When 

 using it, precaution should be taken that it does not come in contact 

 with the hands; for this reason the end of the stick that is held in the hand, 

 should be wrapped in paper. 



The hair should be clipped away from the button of the horn. The 

 end of the stick of caustic potash should be dipped in water and the horn 

 nibbed hard with it until the skin all around the button is raw and bleeds 

 a little. This is necessary in order to wholly destroy the horn tissue. 

 Care should be used that the caustic liquid does not run down into the 

 eyes of the calf. 



This seems like cruel practice, but in reality it is most humane because 

 it does not hurt the calf very much. Dehorning a mature animal is 

 very painful and more or less dangerous. Cattle that have been dehorned 

 are more docile, cannot injure each other or the attendant, and are prob- 

 ably more productive. The sores made by dehorning calves with caustic 

 potash will quickly heal and need no attention. The thing of greatest 

 importance is to do a thorough job, making sure that the horn button 

 is absolutely destroyed. If only a part is destroyed, a stubby, misshapen 

 horn will grow, and a poorly shaped head will result. 



Competition in raising calves 

 A competition in raising calves is a good home project. The children 

 should Ijc encouraged in such an undertaking, and jjerhaps several in 

 the school will caiTy on the work at the same time. Much interest could 

 be stimulated by keeping, at the school, a table of gains made by the 

 calves. The conditions under which the calves are raised will vary 

 somewhat on the dilTcrent faims, j particularly in the matter of the avail- 

 able foods especially as the animals grow older. It will be valuable to 

 discuss these matters in the school for a few minutes from time to time 

 in order that all may have the benefit of the experience that each child 

 raising a calf gains from this actual piece of work. At the close of the 

 competition a show of the calves raised could be held at the school, and 

 an interesting half day could be spent with profit to all. Some of the older 

 folk could be invited in and the results of the work explained to them. 

 A well-raised calf is the result of well-directed effort, which if done in 

 connection with the school life gains dignity and importance in the mind 

 of the child. 



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