DEHORNING nord of hybrid formation.
from Lat. ,f,„ :may from ? Fled. horn). The praet ice of dehorninc cattle has been in vogue in I:nrope and the [lilted 'dates for ninny years. From tinie to time there has been uni•ll coffin, versV as to Illo advisability and alleged cruelty of the operation. Dehorning is quite generally advocated by all who have tried it. Special de ing ,11,nr, or clippers have been Jerked which enable the riper:110r to remove the horns quickly all I with a WM1'11111111 Ilinollnt of pain.
•ho ;Mini:Ids recover from the operation in a few without s, Hon, loss of Iles!' or de crease in milk prodlict ion. D•liortiod animals are Inn•ll less Hatay to injure mi.- another, espe eially in transportation. Cattle With quarrel sontc Vicious disposition are rendered docile and gentle. The operation should be performed in mild weather, and not during periods of ex treme cold or in The growth of horn may 1w entirely prevented IT the application of eaustie potash to the horn button as soon as it van be discovered on the calf's head, or about time• or four days after birth.
In applying caustic potash the hair should be clipped from the head so as to expose the de veloping horn. The latter may be moistened with ammonia. so as to dissolve the oily skin secretion. A stick of caustic potash should then be moistened in water and rubbed on the horn. The operation should be repeated until the horn becomes somewhat sensitive. The proc ess requires only a few minutes. A scab forms over the treated surface, and falls otT after a period of about one month, leaving a smooth poll on which the horns never develop.