98 BEEF PRODUCTION 



does not last more than an hour at the outside, causes 

 no nervous shock, and there is every reason to believe 

 that it is much less than the pain caused by the use 

 of the saw or clippers. By the use of this method there 

 is no set-back to the animal, as the calves never miss a 

 feed and there is no danger of the loss of a single animal. 

 Another advantage of this method is that it leaves a 

 much neater head than when the horns are taken off 

 after they reach their growth, leaving the head resem- 

 bling a natural poll rather than with a square top. 



The substance used is caustic potash or caustic soda 

 which comes in sticks about the size of a lead pencil, 

 and can be procured at almost any drug store. When 

 not in use the sticks should be kept in a closely stop- 

 pered bottle, as they will absorb water from the air and 

 go into solution. It is claimed that this method is 

 successful after the horn is an inch or more in length, 

 but the best time to apply it is after the calf is about 

 a week or two old, or just as soon as the button or young 

 horn can be felt with the finger. The best method of 

 application is to clip the hair from around the young 

 horn with a pair of scissors, wet the stick of caustic 

 potash (not with the tongue), and rub it vigorously on 

 the skin over the horn. This requires but a few minutes 

 and can be done by one man. A brown scab will form 

 which will come off in about a month or six weeks, 

 leaving a smooth, clean poll. To protect the hand, the 

 stick of caustic should be wrapped with paper, leaving 

 one end exposed. Do not get it too wet or it will run 

 down over the side of the head, making a needless sore, 

 and may get into the eye. In making the application, 

 rub in thoroughly, as many failures have been caused 

 by insufficient rubbing. 



Since this method has come into general use, a num- 

 ber of patent dehorners have appeared on the market. 

 These are nothing more than saturated solutions of 

 caustic soda or potash and are sold at many times the 

 price at which it can be purchased in sticks at the drug 



