Dehorning Cattle.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 255, 3 May 1897, Page 3

Dehorning Cattle.

At the New York Farmers' Institntt at Stockbridge, Madison, Co., with Mi F. E. Dawley, director, as conductor, the following was said in respect of dehorn ing: — Q : What is your idea of dehorning cattle ? Mr Dawley : How many of you here have dehorned your cow ? A few hands went up. How many of you do not favor it ? Several hands were raised. A Farmer : I think it a cruel, barbarous fashion. If horns had not been intended for cattle, the Lord wotzld nevea have placed them there. If one does not like the appearance of horns on a cow or bull, let him keep " mullies." Another Farmer: The horns all came off my dairy two or three years ago, and I wonld not have them put back if I conld without cost. Neither will I ever a«ain keep a cow in my herd that wears horns. If they are on when I get her, I will take them' off in short order. There is far more sentiment than sense in this talk about what the Lord intended when he put boms on to cattle. And I don't keep cows for my health, nor for sentiment, but for milk ; and I have learned that my herd of hornless cows produces more milk on the same feed and care, than when they wore horns. When aU lowed to go out they all drink together, and there is no hooking and gouging goinp on ; all is peace and contentment between the cows themselves and those who care for t^em. Mr Dawley: The system of dehorning the cows, as well as the service bulls is rapidly growing into favour in this and other States. If you will notice, closely the next time you are down on the Central, you will see that nearly all the cattle that go by in the cars have lost their horns ; and it is said that a car of hornless cattle will bring several dollars more at the shipping points west than one not dehorned. For myself, if I were keeping a herd for the show ring or for breeding purposes only, as some are kept, I would not take their horns off, but if I kept the herd as a dairyman, should take them off. A Farmer: What about the law against the practice ? Is there snch a one ? Mr Dawley : There ifl no law prohibiting the practice in this state. Tbe Bociety for the prevention of cruelty to animals, has, through some of its agents prosecuted some dairymen for dehorning their herds, but the higher courts have ruled for defendants in every case. I think we shall bear of no more litigation in that direction very soon in this State.