13 



Another method of restraint is to throw the animal and hold it 

 stretched flat on the ground by means of a rope around its neck held 

 by a man on horseback with a turn around the saddle pommel, a 

 second rope being around the hind feet, similarly held by another man 

 on horseback. In the absence of horses these ropes can be secured 

 by taking a turn around a post. After the animal is thus secured an 

 assistant grasps the nose and upper horn, turning the head so that 

 the lower horn can be removed first. This obviates the danger of 

 fracturing the lower horn, and allows the blood to flow directly on 

 the ground and the head to be held flat for the removal of the upper 

 horn. As shown in the illustration (fig. 6) the dehorning shears are 

 frequently used, but there seems to be a tendency in some localities 

 toward giving preference to the saw. 



FIG. 6. Dehorning an animal on the range. 



Many ranchmen apply preparations of pine tar and alcohol, or pine 

 tar and turpentine, after dehorning, to lessen the bleeding and keep 

 the flies 



TO PREVENT HORNS GROWING ON YOUNG CALVES. 



When circumstances are favorable, as in the case of farmers who 

 build up their herds by raising the progeny, the horns may be pre- 

 vented from growing by a simple and practically painless method, 

 and the custom of preventing the growth of the horns is becoming 

 more popular and more generally practiced under all conditions except 

 in the case of calves dropped on the open range. The calf should be 

 treated not later than one week after its birth, preferably when it is 



350 



