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In carrying out this purpose some twenty -five cows were purchased during the 

 month of October, and shipped to the station. When they were let into the yard 

 it was noticed that the larger cows drove the smaller from feed and water, and 

 often prevented their drinking unless protected by the attendant. It was 

 apparent that unless some means could be devised to prevent this, serious losses 

 would occur from irregular feeding aud drinking and by premature births. 



It was decided that the quickest and most effectual remedy was dehorning. 

 This is, by many, considered a questionable practice, because of the pain inflicted 

 during the operation. In order that the immediate effects might be studied a 

 comparison was made of the daily yield of milk and per cent, of fat, before and 

 after dehorning. These results were compared with the record of a number of 

 cows not dehorned, but which saw the operation and smelled the blood. 



The cows, Franc, Roxy, Sully, Gran, Clara and Crossy, were over five years 

 old, and Patsey, Rossie and Bettie, over four years, these were dehorned on the 

 ninth of November, 1891. They were fastened in a stanchion, the head drawn 

 forward by means of a halter and small tackle blocks until the neck was extended 

 to its full length, so that the horns were sufficiently far from the stanchion to 

 permit the free use of the narrow bladed butcher's saw which we used. 



The time occupied was about five seconds per horn ; as soon as the horns 

 were removed pieces of cotton cloth smeared with pine tar were placed upon the 

 wounds. Care was taken to saw the horns inside of the outer edge of the skin, 

 removing with the horn a narrow strip of hair. During the operation the cows 

 gave every indication of intense suffering but upon being released no sign of pain 

 was visible. The wounds healed rapidly without any other application than the 

 tar. 



By comparing the yield of milk of the cows dehorned with that of the cows 

 not dehorned it was found that the former gave 22.2 lbs. less during the three 

 milkings after being dehorned, the latter losing 6.2 lbs. The dehorned cows 

 shrinking seven per cent, while the others lost three per cent. 



Comparing the total fat products of these two groups of cows for the same 

 periods we find a much greater discrepancy, the horned cows showing a shrinkage 

 of only three per cent, while the six cows not dehorned lost eleven per cent. It 

 would appear from these observations that while the operation of dehorning may 

 cause a slight temporary variation in the flow of milk and fat content 

 the normal flow and per cent, of fat is quickly recovered, and that cows only 

 seeing the operation and smelling the blood show a greater shrinkage in fat than 

 do the ones dehorned. 



Dominion Experimental Farm. 



In the report of the Dominion Experimental Farm for 1891, Prof. J. W 

 Robertson writes as follows : 



On 3rd December the operation of dehorning was performed on 4 three- 

 year old steers, and on one Jersey bull five years old. Through questions 

 which have been asked at conventions and farmers' institutes, and by letters 

 which have been received, an opinion has been asked repeatedly during the past 

 two years upon the subject of dehorning cattle. Farmers who have sufficient 

 open-shed or closed-in-shed convenience for the fattening of steers if they could 

 be allowed to run loose with safety, have made frequent applications for in- 

 formation. The practice has become common in many of the States of the 

 Union. The references which have been made to it in the columns of the agri- 

 cultural press provoked further curiosity and interest on the part of Canadian 



