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On cutting off the horns of Bull Calves, By Paul Coopei\ 

 of Woodbury^ New Jersey, 



Read August 12th, 1806. 



The method is, when a calf is about a month old, 

 and the horns have risen above the skin, to cut off the 

 knobs close with a chisel, and with a sharp gouge, pare 

 them clean from the bone : then sear the wound, and 

 fill it with sturgeon's oil, or hog's lard. 



Cattle often acquire such dexterity in throwing down 

 fences with their horns, that if they are chained, head 

 and foot, to prevent their jumping; they will neverthe- 

 less, with their horns, throw the fences down to the 

 gi'ound ; and by that means, let a great part of the stock, 

 perhaps in the night, into your field of corn or wheat. 

 Cattle often learn to lay down bars, open stable and barn 

 doors, gates, &c. with their horns. I have known them 

 a number of times to get into my bam by this means, 

 in the night, when I have had a large quantity of grain 

 on my barn floor. Bulls and coavs not only gore each 

 other, but very frequently wound horses ; I have had se- 

 veral dangerously injured in this way, and a neighbour 

 of ours lately had a horse, that I think he gave S 900 

 for, killed by a bull. Bulls even gore children and grown 

 people, many cows too are dangerous to milk on this 

 account. 



It is materially important, that the above operation 

 should be performed on all bull calves that are not cas- 

 trated. If this method were practised a few 5^ears, I think 

 we should be so fully convinced of its utility, that le- 

 gislatures would apprehend it conducive to the public 



