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ter. At the watering trough or tank two or three of the stronger cattle will not 

 monopolise it all while the weaker ones may have to wait for half an hour or 

 more, but all will crowd up and drink side by side like so many sheep. Likewise 

 in winter where cattle are not stabled, but run loose in an open shed or other 

 shelter ; one-half the amount of shelter is amply sufficient, as they crowd up so 

 much closer together, and there is no danger of the weaker ones being driven out 

 in the storm. In the case of bulls I consider that it is especially desirable that 

 they should be deprived of their horns. I have known of several serious, and 

 one or two fatal accidents to happen by bulls that were supposed to be perfectly 

 safe, which would not have happened had they been dehorned. The same reasons 

 that apply in the case of bulls are equally applicable to all other horned cattle, 

 onh r in a less positive and urgent degree. Again, when cattle are dehorned it is 

 perfectly safe to allow them to run in the same barnyard or pasture with horses 

 and colts, which is a great convenience, especially on a small farm." 



Messrs. Reid and Ullrich, veterinary surgeons, Decatur, Illinois : " We favor 

 disbudding at one month if possible. In dehorning there is considerable pain 

 during the operation ; some hemorrhage, but not dangerous. Any antiseptic lotion 

 may be used as a dressing. We have not done much operating ourselves as farmers 

 usually do it in the various vicinities at such a price that we cannot afford to 

 compete. This illustrates the simplicity of the operation." 



John A. Moore, cattle breeder, Kansas City, Mo : " I have dehorned 5,000 

 during the past four years. I think disbudding is the best method to pursue. 

 In dehorning I have tried all kinds of ' special ' saws and clippers, but I find a 

 stiff back, fine-cut tenon saw the best. Knobbing is not a success nor is the de- 

 horning of the vicious ones only. Advantages of the practice are safety, quietness, 

 better looks, convenience in handling, economy of space in feeding. I believe it 

 is humane to the cattle to take the horns off." 



W. A. Harris, cattle breeder, Linwood, Kansas : " If a calf is to be operated 

 upon I would much prefer the caustic potash method, which, if properly done 

 when the calf is three or four days old, is the true solution of the question for 

 the breeder. I might say, however, that naturally polled cattle fight among each 

 other and cause abortion by butting, which dehorned cattle never seem to learn, 

 and the latter are much to be preferred." 



Wallace Estill, cattle breeder, Estill, Mo"; " The value of dehorning depends 

 on whether you want cattle for feeding or grazing. If wanted to graze in more 

 than carload lots I wouldn't care to have the horns off. If wanted to feed in 

 close lots or sheds, they should be off by all means. If scrubby, mean or coarse, 

 it will uniform them very materially and take away largely that mean appear- 

 ance so common to the scrub. I consider that any bunch of cattle looks very 

 much neater after the horns are off." 



Opposed to the Practice. 



C. L. Ingersoll, agriculturist, Nebraska Experiment Station : " Generally 

 speaking T am not in favor of dehorning. I have observed more than 5,000 de- 

 horned cattle. Knobbing or tipping is usually effective in preventing goring. In 

 my opinion to dehorn vicious animals would be sufficient. I do not consider it a 

 humane practice." 



