22 DEHOIiNFNG CATTLE 



Mr. L. J. Miner, of Whitefield, a member of tlie State Board 

 of Agriculture, tells me that all farmers in his section are more 

 than pleased with dehorning, and that it is quite the exception 

 to see a herd of horned animals. If we can judge otlier towns 

 in the northern part of the state by these reports, it is safe to 

 conclude that this practice is rapidly gaining in favor through- 

 out this section. 



Mr. H. E. Forristall, of Columbia, states that dehorning 

 steers is a financial benefit. He claims that where the horns 

 are oft^, they put on flesh and retain it, while with horns much 

 of the food and nourishment is spent in exercise and in worrying 

 one another. As an example, a year ago, one of our cows 

 slunk her calf in the pasture, because of another's hooking her. 

 Actual danger of this kind is one of the chief reasons in favor of 

 the practice of removing the horns. 



The following notes were obtained through the cooperation 

 of Mr. Leigh Hunt, who was assistant in this department last 

 year. On April 7th last, he, together with the herdsman, de- 

 horned a Jersey grade (Ann), using the Keystone clippers. 

 No special device was constructed for holding the animal, and 

 the work was accomplished by tying her to one of the brick 

 pillars in the barn basement, placing her head against the pil- 

 lar when the operation was performed. This means of holding 

 the animal did not prove satisfactory. During the struggle 

 after the first horn was removed, she threw her head heavily 

 against the pillar, slightly loosening the uncut horn. After the 

 other was removed, she bled very freely. A bandage with pine 

 tar and cotton-seed meal was then applied. The bleeding con- 

 tinued for about an hour, the bandage checking it to a great ex- 

 tent. The operation was performed about eleven o'clock in the 

 morning. The animal ate very little at noon and was very 

 much excited. At night her food was taken about as usual. 

 On the next and the succeeding days there was but little dif- 

 ference noticeable in her eating. Her milk flow dro])ped oft 

 slightly. 



Before operating farther, a strong stanchion was erected, a 

 cut of which is shown in figure 2. 



On April 13th, three more Jerseys ( Cream Cup, Countess, 

 and Bertha) were dehorned. The operation was performed 



