54 



period after dehorning than in the six days preceding the operation. This 

 shrinkage may In' due to two causes: first, the natural shrinkage of the milk 

 yield, and second, the shrinkage caused by dehorning. From records extending 

 over twelve years and including over 100 cows, Dr. Sturtevant, of the New York 

 Experiment Station, calculated that the natural falling off in milk for each month 

 from calving is about 9 per cent, of the yield of the preceding month. Applying 

 this rule to the above figures, we see that the natural falling off in milk would 

 be very nearly 21.20 lbs. 



If, then, the cows had not been dehorned, they would under normal 

 conditions have given 1,156.92 lbs. They actually did give 1,101.49 lbs. We 

 have then the loss of 55.43 lbs. of milk as a result of dehorning twelve cows ; or 

 a loss per cow of 4.02 lbs. of milk in six days. 



On the other hand, as a result of dehorning, we have a gain of 2.4 pounds of 

 butter fat. This is an unlooked for result, but it serves to confirm the fact that 

 any disturbance of a cow's condition is sho^n in a marked manner in the yield 

 of milk and butter. Also, that from this experiment we cannot draw any con- 

 clusions as to the effect of dehorning on the yield of butter. Further experi- 

 ments must be made before we can decide this point. 



There was an average rise in temperature of only a fraction of a degree, a 

 result as easily brought about by the preliminary handling as by the actual de- 

 horning. 



Conclusions. — We have, then, as a result of dehorning twelve cows : first, a 

 slight falling off in the milk yield ; second, an increase in the fat, and third, an 

 increase in the temperature of the animal denoting a slight degree of fever for a 

 few days after the operation. While these results are not conclusive, yet they 

 indicate that dehorning a well fed, healthy cow is not by any means a serious 

 operation, and unless further experiments show a more marked injurious effect 

 on the animal than the one given above, the question of dehorning cows will de- 

 pend entirely on the practical advantages to be derived from it. If by dehorning 

 we can insure an economy in feed and storage as has been claimed, and if at the 

 same time there is no perceptible falling off in quality and quantity of the milk ; 

 then the operation will be one of personal convenience. One thing should, how- 

 ever, be taken into account, and that is the condition of the animal. A cow that 

 is poorly fed, or out of condition is certainly in no condition to undergo an 

 operation of any sort, nor will there be any benefit derived from it. The ques- 

 tion of injury to the constitution or temperament of the animal can only be 

 settled by experiments on a large number of animals extending over several 

 years. 



A Further Experiment. 



In the report of the following year for the same station (Wisconsin), the re- 

 sults of a further experiment are given as follows by Prof. S. M. Babcock, chief 

 chemist : 



In the fifth annual report of this station Mr. Short has considered the effect 

 of dehorning upon milk production, the results of his experiments being that 

 there was scarcely any change either in yield of milk or its quality. In his 

 experiment the cows were dehorned before noon, several hours before milking, 

 so that they had considerable time to recover from the excitement occasioned. 

 From what is known concerning the susceptibility of a cow to very slight 

 changes in the conditions under which the milking is performed, it is probable 



