THE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY 



417 



be clipped away from the horn button 

 and a stick of caustic potash, wrapped in 

 a piece of paper, with one end free, may 

 be moistened on the free end and rub- 

 bed over the horn button until the skin 

 becomes somewhat sensitive. If the de- 

 veloping horn is moistened with water 

 to which soap or ammonia has been add- 

 ed, the effect of the caustic potash is 

 more immediately observed. The opera- 

 tion of rubbing the stick of caustic pot- 

 ash on the horn should be repeated five 

 to eight times, but the whole operation 

 need not require more than a few min- 

 utes. A scab forms over the developing 



the caustic potash, it may be well to 

 grease the hair immediately around the 

 horn button. Many patented chemical 

 dehorning substances are offered on the 

 market, but caustic potash is the chief 

 constituent of nearly all of them and it 

 is far cheaper to buy the caustic potash 

 in the pure form. Experiments have 

 also been tried in dehorning calves at 

 an early age by means of various other 

 chemical preparations; for example: 

 hydrochloric acid; sulphuric acid mixed 

 with sulphur, glue or carbolic acid; 

 chloride of zinc; and chromic acid oint- 

 ment or solution. The best success, 



Fig. 273 — TEXAS STEER GERONIMO 



horn within a few days, if the work is 

 properly done, and drops off within a 

 month or six weeks, leaving a smooth 

 poll 



The best results from the use of caus- 

 tic potash are secured when this ma- 

 terial is applied as soon as it is possible 

 to locate the horn button on the calf's 

 head. In case the first application is 

 not entirely effective, it may be re- 

 peated again as soon as it is noticed 

 that the horns are growing. Care 

 should be exercised in all cases to pre- 

 vent the caustic potash from running 

 down in the hair or getting into the 

 eyes. In order to limit the action of 



however, has attended the use of caustic 

 potash, and this is the only remedy to be 

 recommended. 



If steers are allowed to develop with 

 horns of usual size, it may be advisable 

 to remove the horns before putting the 

 steers in feed lots for the fattening pe- 

 riod. The horns may be removed by 

 means of dehorning clippers, a number 

 of which have been patented, and are 

 offered for sale by dealers in veterinary 

 instruments. The dehorning clipper 

 should remove the horn at a ^ single 

 stroke. As a result of the operation the 

 animals show a marked gentleness and 

 docility, even if they had previously 



