DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 281 



but bulls should be dehorned to protect ourselves. Animals that 

 are dehorned are more quiet and contented, fatten faster, and do 

 better all around. 



As the exportation of cattle is quite extensively carried on, the 

 removal of their horns will then not only lessen the owner's risk, 

 but will also add materially to the comfort and safety of the ani- 

 mals themselves. The operation may be performed at the age of 

 two or three days or at any time through life. With the bull 

 it is better to let him get old enough to learn the use of his horns 

 as weapons of offense, and then deprive him of them. If taken 

 out when a mere calf he will learn to use his head in butting, 

 as a "moolly," but if dehorned after he grows up, it will gener- 

 ally make him very docile and peaceable. You can very easily 

 and with very little pain to the calf, prevent his horns from grow- 

 ing by applying the caustic potash treatment when but a few days 

 old. This is done by putting the calf over on its side and hold- 

 ing it, while the operator clips the hair off the spot where the 

 horn is to grow. Then with a stick of caustic potash he dips one 

 end into cold water and rubs it gently on the spot for about ten 

 or twelve seconds. The calf is then turned over and the opera- 

 tion repeated on the other side. By this time the first side is dry 

 and ready for a second application of the caustic, which is done 

 exactly as the first. When both sides have been treated twice 

 the calf can be let go and he will grow up a hornless animal. 

 Dehorning of grown cattle should be done in the spring or late 

 fall between fly-time and cold weather. The operation is com- 

 paratively simple, and can generally be performed by the owner. 

 A good saw or a pair of dehorning clippers (Fig. 55) is necessary 

 to take the horns off with. The animal can be secured by tying 

 down or by being put into a contrivance made for the purpose. 

 The head must be securely fastened so the animal can't move 

 around too much while the operator is removing the horns. It 

 is well to take them off close, and even remove a portion of the 

 skin about the horn so as to make a clean job. Bleed- 



