DEHORNING CATTLE 



T. EXPERIENCE WITH THE COLLEGE HERD 



BY F. WM. RANE 



Beginning with the years 1S85 and 1SS6, the practice of de- 

 horning cattle has rapidly grown in favor, until at present it is 

 commonly practised in many sections. Illinois is credited with 

 being the first state to advocate it. From the first many have 

 strenuously objected to it, numerous lawsuits resulting therefrom. 

 Most of these prosecutions have taken place under the law for 

 the prevention of cruelty to animals. Many states have had 

 test cases, but no one in the United States, so far as we can 

 learn, has been convicted where the case has been carried to the 

 higher courts. Canada has gone farther than any other coun- 

 try in instigating legal proceedings to settle the question. A 

 commission was appointed by the government, which reported 

 in 1893 in favor of the operation when performed with reason- 

 able skill. 



During the past year the college herd was dehorned, the data 

 from which operation form the basis for this bulletin. This is 

 not the first dehorning that has been done in the state. In the 

 northern part it is very commonly practised, while in the 

 southern most of the dehorned animals are those that have been 

 shipped from the north. One farmer who purchased some of 

 these cows was so well pleased with them that he has operated 

 on his remaining herd of twenty-nine animals. 



One of last winter's dairy school student's, Mr. E. Richard- 

 son, and his brother purchased a pair of Keystone clippers two 

 years ago, and after operating upon their own herd, made a 

 business of dehorning for others at the rate of fifteen cents per 

 head. Up to the present time they have dehorned over 

 1,500 animals in and about Littleton. 



