386 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



and, probably, also coarseness more or less in the grain 

 of the flesh. 



Each pure breed has a style of horn peculiar to itself, 

 and, in this respect, horns dififer greatly. The style of 

 the horn, that is, its setting, its shape, and its curvature, 

 is a distinct indicator of true and desirable breeding. 

 Unless, therefore, the horns are retained in pure-breds 

 kept for breeding, the value of horns because of what 

 they indicate is lost. Thus far the possession of horns 

 serves a useful purpose, and, in this respect, the horned 

 breeds have one advantage over those that are hornless. 

 Should the horns be removed, however, the purchaser 

 of such animals for breeding would be deprived of the 

 opportunity to judge of the factors referred to on the 

 basis of testimony furnished by horns. Not one pur- 

 chaser in one hundred would care to invest in a male 

 that had been dehorned to place the same at the head 

 of his pure herd. Purchasers also would desire to see 

 the style of horn possessed by the dam, and also other 

 ancestors before investing in pure-breds to add to their 

 herds. 



When the horns are removed from pure-bred cattle, 

 the style of the head becomes less attractive. The poll 

 of horned breeds is level and more or less broad, while 

 that of the hornless breed is more or less arched, and, 

 in some instances, also a little pointed. The head of the 

 dehorned animal, therefore, is always more or less lack- 

 ing in shapeliness. The flat poll is no way objectionable 

 when graceful horns grow out of it, but when these are 

 removed it certainly has a repellent plainness. Such 

 removal of the horns would have considerable influence 

 in withholding a prize from pure-bred animals when in 

 the show ring. But, of course, it would be legitimate 

 and commendable to dehorn such pure-breds as may be 

 singled out for the shambles. 



Whether cattle grown on the open range should be 

 dehorned may be an open question. The possession of 



