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caustic potash and sulphuric acid, and the attendant and prolonged pain and the 

 danger of accidents from the extension of caustic by rubbing, etc., were such as 

 to render the process much more painful and objectionable than operation with 

 the knife. While I would not for a moment endorse the dehorning of cattle in 

 a brutal way, through the thick horn rather than through the skin, nor at a 

 wrong season, and without protection such as tar, to keep the flies from deposit- 

 ing their larvae in the wound ; nor the dehorning of part of a herd only to be 

 hereafter abused by the remainder, I am fully confident that properly performed 

 this operation is a highly beneficial one, and its few acknowledged drawbacks are 

 far more than counterbalanced by its advantages." 



Walter J. Quick, Director, Colorado Agricultural College: "I have observed 

 the operation frequently, and noted results. I consider the proper age to perform 

 the operation is any time between calving and ten months old. I have never 

 seen or known of any dressing being used. In sawing, the closer the horn is 

 taken off the better. If the skin is cut a little there is no harm done, and the 

 greater flow of blood will cyme from this broken skin. I have tried disbudding 

 and prevention of the growth of the horn by means of the chemical dehorner, 

 which is very litt T e more than caustic potash. I consider these methods the 

 proper means of dehorning, as they are comparatively painless. In the former 

 the button can be removed as soon as it is large enough to be found ; in the latter 

 the best time to apply is within three weeks old. I consider that the suffering 

 inflicted by the operation is justified by the results, outside of any financial 

 consideration. I believe there is as much suffering prevented as there is caused 

 by the operation. Horns are considered by some to be a necessary evil : I con- 

 sider them an unnecessary evil." 



Frank E. Emery, Agriculturist, North Carolina Station (views endorsed by 

 Prof. J. It. Chamberlain) : " Appetite does not seem to be impaired by the 

 operation, and often, with no other data than the milk record, one could not say 

 positively when the operation took place. Animals with knobbed horns, while 

 less dangerous, can and do make just as much disturbance in a herd as though no 

 knobs were on them. Dehorning results in a more comfortable and quiet feeling 

 among the herd, hence we expect less interference with the milk yield and 

 fattening, and less danger to men from handling the bull." 



Clinton D. Smith, Director, Minnesota Experiment Station : " I have prac- 

 tised the operation for years on dairy cows and on steers just prior to the winter 

 feeding, probably one thousand head together. If the use of caustic on calves is 

 effective I should prefer that method — otherwise about three years old or older. 

 A fine-tooth butcher's saw is the best. The horns should be sawn off about 

 quarter of an inch inside of the union of the hide and horn and in a plane parallel 

 with the circle of union. We usually put some tar on a piece of muslin two inches 

 square and place this upon the stub of the horn. Dehorning enables farmers to 

 keep more animals with the same amount of help by putting them without tying 

 in yards ; it makes the whole herd more quiet and tractable. I have frequently 

 seen ten steers drinking from the same trough sixteen feet long, without an. 

 attempt to crowd or push each other." 



S. M. Tracy, Director, Mississippi Station : " I have performed the operation 

 during the past four years on at least 500 animals. The best time to operate is 

 when the horn can be felt distinctly, but I have taken them off at all ages : as 

 close to the head as possible, cutting half an inch or so below where the skin 

 joins the horn. Brass knobs prevent goring, but do not prevent fightino\ 

 Dehorning secures greater docility, less danger from injury to each other, anil 



