106 Bulletin No. 34. 



cavity of the skull. In such cases it is well to put a little medic- 

 ated cotton over the opening to keep out flies and dirt. Should 

 the animal in a day or two give evidence of pain by shaking its 

 head an opening should be made in the cotton to allow the escape 

 of matter which is sometimes formed inside. When a saw is used 

 it is almost necessary to have a chute in order to properly hold 

 the animal during the sawing operation. If clippers are used the 

 .use of a chute will save time but is not necessary. While the 

 .horns of young animals are more easily cut than those of old ones 

 the operation is more painful and usually accompanied by a great- 

 er loss of blood on account of there being more sensitive tissue 

 and a greater supply of blood vessels in the soft growing horn. 



The best time to dehorn cattle is when the}' are calves, and 

 the younger they are the better. Some will not agree with this 

 statement, believing that animals never having horns retain their 

 desire to fight and simply bunt instead of hook. During the first 

 few days of the calf's life the horns to be are simply little buttons 

 that are not attached in any way to the skull. They may then 

 be removed by the use of a sharp knife, or by clippers made for 

 the purpose, with very little pain to the calf and little or no loss 

 of blood. Various chemicals and commercial dehorning fluids 

 have been used for the destruction of the young horns. In the 

 use of liquid preparations the greatest of care should be exercised 

 to prevent the spread of the fluid. The use of caustic potash is 

 perhaps the most to be recommended, it being cheap, easily ap- 

 plied and efficient. It comes in the form of sticks which for the 

 protection of the fingers should be wrapped in paper when 

 handled. A stick costing ten cents will dehorn ten or a dozen 

 calves. The hair should be clipped from the horn and the skin 

 immediately surrounding it, the potash dipped in water and the 

 moistened end rubbed upon the horn. Repeat this three or four 

 times or until the part seems sensitive. A scab forms where the caus- 

 tic potash has been applied and when that comes off the horn 

 comes with it. There is no wound made and therefore no danger 

 of trouble from flies and screw worms. With the writer this 

 method of dehorning has proved effective on calves up to a month 

 old. 



G. H. True, 



Department of Animal Husbandry. 



