115 



Q. What would you give as your actual loss from damage caused by horns ? A. I would 

 say that the actual depreciation in the value of 300 hides would be about $45, and there is a 

 weekly loss to that extent. 



Q. Now, if dehorning is an operation not involving an undue amount of pain, do you think 

 it might be justified, looking at the loss and suffering caused by the horns ? A. Yes ; I think 

 if it could be done when the cattle are young it would be desirable. I have seen dehorned 

 cattle at the Chicago market, and there the practice seems to be growing very popular. 



Alfred O. Beardmore, Toronto, sworn, said : I am a member of the firm of Beardmore & 

 Co. , and we have a tannery at Acton. I can confirm all that Mr. Wickett says in regard to the 

 injury done to the hides. Just the other clay our manager sorted out 150 hides, and of these 

 he had to throw out 30. I think the loss is from 20 to 25 per cent. , and that Mr. Wickett's 

 estimate of $45 loss per week is about right. It is a serious loss to us, and it must mean a great 

 deal of pain to the animal. We have noticed, also, that the marks are generallv fresh thus 

 showing that the injuries are chiefly sustained in the cattle markets and trains. 



William Levack, Toronto, sworn, said : I am a wholesale butcher and cattle dealer and 

 have been in the business about 20 years. I slaughter and prepare the meat for retail 

 butchers. I handle about 100 a week, or somewhere about 5,000 in the year. We have a oreat 

 deal of loss from bruises and damaged hides. Very often I have to cut away the flanks' and 

 briskets altogether. The injured part swells up and the blood gathers there, makino- it into a 

 jelly. I have pointed out to Inspector Awde and the humane officer cases where blood was 

 running down the legs of cattle from injuries they gave each other, but they don't want to act 

 in that matter at all, although they are very particular about putting an extra calf into a wa°-on. 



Q. Jf you bought a dozen bullocks direct off a farm you would not expect so much damage \ 

 A. No ; it is where a lot of strange cattle get together they start using their horns. 



Q. Do you favor dehorning ? A. Yes. 



Q. Would you think there must be a good deal of suffering inflicted on the animals by each 

 other I A. Yes ; I have noticed one animal knock another into the feed box, and there are 

 cases where they have died from this. If you go into a yard two or three that are afraid of the 

 others will follow you around for protection — that shows that there must be a good deal of suf- 

 fering My loss from bruised meat and damaged hides is from $1,000 to $1,500 a year. I am 

 satisfied myself that it is more than that, but 1 would not like to appear to exao-o-erate. 



Mr. George Taunt then appeared before the Commission on behalf of the Toronto Humane 

 Society, and urged that the practice should not be allowed for a merely financial consideration. 

 He quoted the English case in which Lord Chief Justice Coleridge strongly denounced the prac- 

 tice as cruel and unjustifiable, and asked the Commissioners to bring in a finding in accord with 

 the decision in that case. 



The Commission then adjourned at 5 o'clock, to meet again at 8.30 the following mornino- 

 Friday, June 17th, for the purpose of visiting the western cattle market. 



Friday, June 17. 



The Commissioners visited the western cattle market on Friday morning June 17 and 

 spent two hours inspecting the various bunches of cattle occupying the yards. As the market 

 was unusually busy — about eighty carloads of stock having been received — the Commissioners 

 had every opportunity for judging of some of the evils complained of. In almost every yard 

 were one or two animals that seemed to be specially marked out for attack by the herd Gener- 

 ally, and many animals showed evidence of having been severely horned by their fellows." The 

 bruises and cuts were in some cases so severe as to indicate that much suffering must have been 

 caused to the animals, as stated by witnesses. 



Ottawa, Thursday, July 7, 1892. 



The Commissioners met in Ottawa on Thursday, July 7th, all the members beinf in attend- 

 ance. A visit was paid to the Dominion Experimental Farm, where fourteen steers and a bull 

 that had been dehorned were seen. Subsequently a meeting was held in the farm office when 

 evidence was given by Prof. Robertson, Dairy Commissioner, and Robert W. Elliott Herds- 

 man. 



