238 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



planation as to why they do this. To prevent the habit many 

 devices and methods have been tried with varying degrees 

 of success. One device may work successfully on one cow 

 and fail on another. One method that has been used suc- 

 cessfully is to fasten one end of a strong stick about 3 feet 

 long to the ring of the halter, passing the stick between the 

 front legs and fastening the other end to a ring in a strap 

 that extends around the cow's body. This device allows 

 the cow to raise and lower her head but prevents turning 

 her head toward the body. Muzzles placed over the ani- 

 mals' noses, cradles around their necks, bits in the mouth, 

 and various other methods have been used. Applications 

 such as quinine or red pepper have been placed on the teats. 

 If a cow is a confirmed self-sucker, she should be sent to 

 the butcher unless she is especially valuable as a breeding 

 animal. 



Deharning 



Horns are of no use to the animal. It is no longer nee- 

 cessary for the cow to fight for self-protection or for the 

 protection of her young. Cows with horns oftentimes injure 

 one another in the stable or lot, and they sometimes acci- 

 dentally injure the attendants. Bulls with horns are de- 

 cidedly more dangerous than those without horns. There 

 is only one excuse for allowing animals to retain horns, and 

 that is for the sake of appearances; and it is very question- 

 able whether a large proportion of horns as found really 

 add to an animal's appearance. Still they do sometimes 

 increase the selling price of an animal and may increase its 

 chances in the show ring, and so long as these conditions 

 exist it is advisable to let the horns remain on at least some 

 of the purebred animals. 



The main thing to consider in dehorning or in preven- 

 tion of horn growth is to destroy or remove the skin from 

 which the horn grows. In the calf this skin covers the horn 

 button and can be destroyed by treatment with caustic soda 

 or potash. In a few weeks thereafter this skin lies at the 

 base of the horn and entirely surrounds it. Proper dehorn- 

 ing therefore includes the removal of this skin, which is 



