28 



Removal of the Embryo Horn. 



Disbudding, that is, the cutting out of the embryo horn when the calf is from 

 three to seven or eight weeks old, has, by a number of veterinarians and scien- 

 tific agriculturists, been advocated as preferable to dehorning later on, their im- 

 pression being that the operation is less painful at an early age. None of the 

 witnesses examined by the Commission had any experience in this direction, but 

 from the collected information the following opinions might be quoted : 



Prof. Walley (in the English trial) : "As soon as the small horn cones on the young ani- 

 mal you have only to make an incision and take a knife and remove the core. The horn does 

 not grow again, or if it does it will be very imperfect. The suffering caused is infinitesimal." 



Prof. Macqueen, Glasgow Veterinary College : "The operation, if performed at a 1 !, should 

 be done on the animal before it is six or eight months old. This prevents the horns growing 

 and the operation is comparatively painless." 



Prof. Wallace, Agriculturist of the University of Edinburgh : " The best time to perform 

 the operation is when a well-fed calf is almost a month or six weeks old. 'J lie horns are then 

 budding and protruding through the skin. The knife used should go deep enough to remove 

 the whole of the base of the limpet-like horn, and with it a little of the skin all round to make 

 sure that no growth of " scaurs " should afterwards occur." 



James Law, F.R.C.V.S., Cornell University Agricultural Station : " The operation as 

 practiced on the budding horns of a young calf is much less painful." 



S. M. Tracy, Director, Mississippi Station : "The best time to operate is when the horn can 

 be felt distinctly, buc I have taken them off at all ages." 



R. R. Dinwiddie, V.S., Arkansas Station : " Disbudding under three months is preferable, 

 either with the gouge or caustic. There is less pain and the results are as good." 



Joseph Hughes, M.R.C.V.S., Chicago Veterinary College : " I think disbudding would be 

 less painful and would meet all requirements." • » 



George W. Curtis, Director, Texas station : " Removing the buttons from calves I do not 

 think any less painful than dehorning. We mind it less, however, for the reason that the animals 

 are smaller and weak, and cannot make so much show of resistance or pain." 



H. H. Haaf. Chicago : "The operation of dehorning calves is the most peculiar, the most 

 particular, and the most severe operation in the whole category of dehorning cattle." 



James Clark, F.R.C.V.S., Coupar Angus, Scotland: "Calves can be dehorned at two or 

 three months old, but in clumsy hands might be made a more painful operation than it really is 

 in older animals, from the fact that the horn is not properly formed, and a considerable portion 

 of skin necessarily requires to be removed." 



Arkansas Experimental Station bulletin, August, 1883: "The operation on calves is less 

 objectionable and should be preferred to the more serious and painful operation on older auimals. 

 It is best performed when the calves are from three to seven or eight weeks old, soon after the 

 horn shows itself above the skin. Removal of the small, movable button of horn is not sufficient 

 to prevent further growth, but part of the soft, spongy bone beneath should also be removed. 

 A circular gouge— the ordinary punch formerly used for cutting gun wads — is the only instru- 

 ment necessary. By a rotatory movement the skin is cut down to the bone around the base of 

 the horn, and" by depressing the hand and slight lateral motion the bone is easily removed for a 

 sufficient depth. The skull wall is, at this age, solid at the base of the horn and very thick, 

 soft osseous tissue filling up the space which afterwards, by absorption, becomes part of the 

 frontal sinus. Bleeding usually ceases spontaneously ; if excessive, it may be controlled by cold 

 water or pressure by pad held in place by a bandage. The only after treatment is to keep the 

 part clean by occasional washing with an antiseptic solution, such as carbolic acid, one part to 

 fifty of water. Dehorning, after the fourth or fifth month must be clone by the saw, as the 

 horns are then usually too large to admit the use of the gouge. 



(Many of the witnesses expressed a fear that the removal of the bone in 

 calfhood would develop in the animal a tendency to bunt, and that if such should 

 prove to be the case many of the advantages of the operation would be lost.) 



