158 PROFITABLE DAIRYING 



ever, as the dairyman now protects his herd 

 against the ravages of wolves and other wild 

 beasts, these appendages are no longer neces- 

 sary and should be removed. This can be done 

 in a humane way when they are calves and 

 the effect is hardly noticeable. In case a horned 

 cow is purchased, she should be dehorned as 

 soon as possible, both as a protection for her 

 owner and also for the other members of the 

 herd. She may lose flesh at first, the flow of milk 

 may be decreased, and the test will be likely to 

 drop, but these results are only temporary; she 

 will recover from this shrinkage within a week 

 or two and is likely to gain more than she lost. 

 Cattle that are dehorned become more docile 

 and are not in constant dread of being hooked 

 by other members of the herd. They can be 

 sheltered more conveniently; in fact there are so 

 many advantages in dehorning that it should 

 be generally practiced. 



Shelter essential. In a previous chapter atten- 

 tion was called to the fact that a considerable 

 portion of the food is used to provide heat and 

 the maintenance for the body. It is therefore 

 evident that if the body is not properly protected, 

 more feed will be required to maintain a cow 

 and, for this reason if for no other, she should 

 be well sheltered. It must be remembered that a 

 good dairy cow does not have so thick a skin as 



