DEHORNING OF CATTLE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 11

DEHORNING OF CATTLE.

BREEDERS' DISCUSSION

The New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association' yesterday discussed a proposal to dehorn cattle, but a motion favouring such a practice being adopted was lost.

In accordance with notice given, Mr W. J. Jenkins (Sheffield) moved "that the Association considers the advisability of dehorning all pure-bred cattle except stud bulls, and that the points now given for the horns be deleted from the scale of points." In doing, so Mr Jenkins said two years ago he would not have thought of doing so, but experience had convinced him of the wisdom of the proposal. While he agreed that the horn was an indication of purity in a breed, at the same time he was of opinion that dehorning would prove advantageous. Other members said that dehorning had resulted in benefit to herds, preventing injury to udders, besides which it enabled them to get close together in bad weather for shelter. Members would not, however, dehorn bulls.

Mr Peach moved as an amendment that dehorning be optional. The motion was amended as follows: —"That the Association recommends the advisability of dehorning purebred female cattle, and that the points now given . for the horns he deleted from the scale of' points for female cattle." The amendment was ruled out of order, the chairman stating that it was a direct negative to the motion. The chairman said that if the motion were carried it would not mean that it would be compulsory to dehorn cattle. The amended motion was then submitted and lost.