21 



while the dehorned animal is at once subjected to general attack. Substantiat- 

 ing this the following, among other opinions, might be referred to : 



W. V. Nigh, farmer, Avou, Ont. : "t dehorned a vicious cow. and when I saw how little 

 she suffered and the way in which the others went for her I decided to take the horn3 off the 

 whole lot." 



Joseph Franks, farmer, Dorchester, Ont. : " I bought two dehorned cows, and these two 

 are attacked more than any other in the herd." 



Thomas Rutherford, farmer, Delmer, Ont. : "At tir3t the quiet one3 were allowed to keep 

 their horns, but these became bossy, and [ decided to have all the horns taken off." 



Prevention of Growth. 



A number of witnesses who believe that horns are undesirable, advocated the 



prevention of their growth by means of chemicals. There are at present two or 



three chemical preparations on the market which are advertised to prevent the 



growth of the horn if properly applied, and the information obtained by the 



Commission seems to indicate that this method is attended by a considerable 



degree of success. 



John Fulton, farmer, Oxford county, says : " I would recommend chat the operation be 

 performed on calves by means of caustic ; the best time to apply it is in the fir t week. There 

 does not seem to be auy suffering more than an itching of the part. I tried caustic on eleven 

 calves, some were a good job ; on one or two there were stubs, and on one of the animals one 

 horn was left." 



John H. Reed, fanner, Oxford county : "I do not like to dehorn my cows because I am 

 attached to them. I tried the liquid preparation on calves of three days old, but this was only 

 a few days ago, and I could not speak as to the success 01 the experiment." 



L. A. Brown, V.S., Aylmer, Ont. : "I have used potash caustic on about 30 calves three 

 weeks old and under. In some cases it was a success. All that was necessary was to cl p the 

 hair from the budding horn and thoroughly apply the caustic. I consider, however, that the 

 best results are secured by removing the horns from the grown animal." 



Les'ie H. Adams, Farm Superintendent, Wisconsin Agricultural Station, writes: ''In ad- 

 vertisements of chemical fluids it is often claimed that the application is painless, but our obser- 

 vations do not coincide with any such statement. The application of a fluid powerful enough to 

 destroy so large a surface as the button on the calf's head must produce a g'eat deal ot pain, 

 and the calves show this by nervous movements of the head and attempting tj rub the irritated 

 spot." 



Prof. H H. Wing, of the Cornell Agricultural Station, writes: "We have made several 

 trials with stick caustic potash and the indications are that it is going to be the most succes ful, 

 the most humane, andth- 1 easiest method o' growing hornless cattle." 



Prof. I. P. Roberts, Director of the Cornell Station : " Prevention by means of stick caustic 

 potash is a good thing, but it should be done before the calf is t.vo weeks old " 



Walter J. Quick. Director, Colorado Agricultural Station : " I have tried disbudding and 

 prevention <>i the growth of the hum oy means of the chemical dehomer. I consider these 

 methods the proper means of dehorning as they are comparatively painless." 



Cli ton D. Smith, Director, Minnesota Experiment Station: "If the use of caustic on calves is 

 effective 1 should prefer that method." 



C. S. Plumb. Director, Indiana Station : " I usually remove the horn by the application of 

 a little caustic potash, just as it appears upon the surface of the skin. In my experience calves 

 do not show any indicati .n of pain, and it would save lots of trouble in the future." 



