36 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



66. Dehorning calves. — If calves are to be dehorned the best 

 time is before they are three weeks of age. It may be done by the use 

 of a stick of caustic potash which can be obtained at any drug store. 



Clip the hair away from the button of the horn. Dip the end 

 of the potash stick in water and rub the horn hard until the skin 

 all round the button is raw and bleeds a little. The important 



Preventing the Growth of Horns 

 (a) First step, hold the calf securely. 



thing is to do the job thoroughly so that all the horn tissue is 

 destroyed. Otherwise a nubby, misshapen horn will grow, spoiling 

 the appearance of the animal's head. Finally the raw skin should 

 be smeared with vaseline. The sores will rapidly heal and require 

 no further attention. Because of the burning properties of the 

 potash stick the end by which it is held should be wrapped in 

 paper. For the same reason the liquid produced in treating the 

 horn must not be allowed to run down into the calf's eyes. Cattle 

 that have been dehorned are more docile and less likely to injure 

 each other or the attendants. 



