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Harrietsville, May 13. 



The Commissioners arrived at Harrietsville shortly after 8 o'clock, Friday, Maj^ 13. Before 

 meeting to receive evidence, the farm of Mr. William York was visited, and as this is the 

 gentleman who was prosecuted at London for allowing his cattle to be dehorned, special interest 

 was taken in the inspection of his herd. The cattle were out on the pasture, but were driven 

 into the stable in order that they might be closely examined. There were about 40 head 

 altogether, and all were without horns. They appeared to be in good condition, and the Com- 

 missioners, in their brief visit, saw nothing but what was of a highly satisfactoi-y character. 

 The hearing of evidence was commenced at 9 o'clock in the Harrietsville hall, a large 

 gathering of farmers from the surrounding country being present. 



Edward York, farmer, Dereham township, Oxford county, sworn, gave the following 

 evidence : 



Mr. Drury. — I understand you are engaged principally in dairying, Mr. York ? A. Yes, 

 I keep from 25 to 30 cows for dairy purposes. 



Q. You have had considerable experience with cattle ? A. Yes, for the past 45 years. 



Q. You have heard the evidence of witnesses, do you agree with them as to the loss and 

 inconvenience owing to horns on dairy cows 1 A. Yes, with regard to the loss, I have sustained 

 greater loss than most of the witnesses speak of. I have lost $ 3u0 in horses and other stock since 

 I began farming, and I have seen one animal kill another with the horns ; they frequently break 

 their horns, and it has become a general and continual annoyance ; then there has been 

 great difficulty at the watering trough. I consider the horns a nuisance to the beast, and not 

 safe for the men ; I had to have a bull shot once, it came so near killing the attendant. 



Q. You have dehorned your cattle ? A. Yes, I started a year ago last November. 



Q. Have you observed a change for the better since the operation 1 A. A very great 

 change. 



Q. What are the advantages you have experienced from the practice ? A. They are quiet to 

 one another, and are safe to horses, men, hogs and sheep. 



Q. From the standpoint of humanity to the animals themselves, do you think that the 

 operation "invofves suffering much in access of the injury they would inflict upon each other ] 

 A. I consider it a humane act to the animal, and saves a great deal of cruelty, besides being 

 more profitable ; I believe they will give more milk, through being kept more quiet, and that 

 the milk will be better than that given by horned cattle. 



Q. Would you say it would be equally effective to prevent the growth of horns in the calf ? 

 A. I would not say that altogether, because I am afraid that in growing up they would learn to 

 bunt. I prefer to have them grow up with the horns and then take them off properly when 

 they are about two \ ears old ; they lose their weapons then and are quieted. 



Q. Do you think there is a possibility of fraud as to age ? A. No ; 1 think there is some- 

 thing in the appearance of an animal that suggests its age ; we get accustomed to looking at the 

 horn, but they can be fixed up by obliterating the rings ; without the horns I would judge 

 largely by the mouth ; if an animal had a good mouth I would say it was a good animal ; and 

 if it was wanted for beef, 1 should think the general appearance would be the main thing. 



Q. Do you think that man is justified in inflicting pain upon domesticated animals under 

 any circumstances } A. Yes ; if the benefits derived are^proportionate. I consider that castra- 

 tion is justifiable, and that dehorning is not so severe an operation. 



Q. How do animals act during the operation ? A. Some o : them don't flinch at all ; others 

 will make as much fuss before as during the operation ; the horns can be removed in from three 

 to ten seconos ; after the animals are let loose it is a rare ca-e where they show pain ; they eat 

 as usual, and next day they appear as well as ever they did. There is about as much difference 

 in the milk yield as there is after a coldish rain storm in warm weather, a little falling off, but 

 not much. 1 have held about 300 or 40<> while they were being dehorned. When the saw 

 starts there is a little flinching, but after the saw is well through, you hardly notice anything. 

 On the second horn the animal is more apt to twist its head, but almost always the pain is only 

 momentary. 



Q. In looking over a herd of cattle could you readily detect a sick animal? A. Yes, in 

 walking up the alley among the animals I could tell at a glance whether they are all in health 

 or not. 



Q. Did you sec any signs of ill-health among those cattle that were dehorned I A. I have 

 only noticed one that didn't do as well as the rest, and we have dehorned sixty. She seemed 

 to lose her appetite for a little while, but afterwards went on all right. Another got hurt and 

 discharged more than they generally do ; 1 knew of three horns that had a discharge from which 

 there was an odor, but the others were simply a mucous discharge. 



