200 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



peared with horns, a sharp knife, carried in the pocket, took 

 out the button with no more injury to the animal than the 

 clipping of a lamb's tail, and much less pain than is caused 

 by the castration of male lambs. This was tried with Jerseys. 

 I found the Jerseys especially, because of their nervous dis- 

 position, injured each other with their horns, and I took to 

 removing the horns from my Jersey calves. I raised a good 

 many and sold a good many registered Jerseys without 

 horns. There is no question that the fact of being hornless 

 aided in the prevention of casualties, although of course I do 

 not believe that the disposition of those animals was materi- 

 ally changed ; nor would you notice, in the case of my father- 

 in-law's herd, which were hornless, and that of his neigh- 

 bor, which were horned in the regular style of the Devon 

 ( although there was a very marked difference in the appear- 

 ance of the animals), any difierence whatever in the general 

 characteristics and disposition of the two herds. Certainl}^ 

 a Devon bull that I very well recollect, born without horns, 

 as well as a younger one whose horns were removed, were 

 not specially pleasant companions to handle without some- 

 thing between the person and the bull in the way of a stick. 

 But still, even in this case, there is no question that a bull 

 without horns is not so formidable an antagonist as one that 

 has a good pair of horns upon his head. It is simply a mat- 

 ter of style and fashion. If anybody objects to having horns 

 upon his cows he can do without them, just as he may have 

 short-tailed lambs as well as long-tailed. 



Mr. Smith. I would like to inquire whether there is not 

 a standard of excellence which governs not only the register- 

 ing of the animals but the awarding of premiums at the 

 great exhibitions, and if there is not, also, in the distinct 

 breeds (Major Alvord or some other man can answer the 

 question), a standard of excellence to govern in the tests? 

 In the Jerseys, in the short-horns, and in all those breeds 

 which have horns, among the points, is it not prescribed that 

 the horns shall be of such shape, such length, etc. ? And how 

 are you going to compete with Jersey cattle with your horn- 

 less Jerseys? 



Major Alvord. You cannot, of course. 



Mr. Smith. I do not believe in interfcrinii with nature 



