Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1886 — More about Dehorning Cattle. [ARTICLE]

More about Dehorning Cattle.

We have lately devoted considerable space in the. REPUBLICAN; to the subject of dehorning cattle; so much, in fact, that we doubt not but many of our readers, especially those not directly interested m cattle in any way, are beginning to think that we are running the subject into the ground; but we have given the matter considerable attention and have become convinced, from the unanimous testimony of many who have seen the effect of the practice, that it is not only a good thing but that its advantages are of vastly m'ore importance than most

people would suppose at the first thought. Lln support of this statement we reprint from the Lafayette Courier the following summary of points demonstrated by Mr. Haaff, of Atkinson, 111, the especial advocate of dehorning during his recent visit to Lafayette: Mr. Haaff shows that 1. Dehorning cattle would insure a lease of life to two hundred people in the United Statea annually. .U..; 2. Dehorning cattle saves, us 10,000 colts and horses, saves us. almost innumerable cattle, sheep and hogs. 3. Dehorning cattle saves twenty five per cent, of feed in wintering. In this I speak by actual experiment for three years on my own place, where I have dehorned 1,000 head of all ages and sizes. Cattle will bunch and keep warm. 4. Dehorning cattle saves at least one-half of shed room, and better still is the fact that the shed may be tight all around save a few small openings on the south side. - 5. Again dehorning cattle prevents losses by abortion. I lose no calves now while formerly those born thus cost me many a calf. Cattle feed better, are more quiet, fatten better and ship better. Making,, if necessary some allowances for largeness of state ment in the above, due perhaps to Mr. HaafFs enthusiasm in the cause, we presume that the observation of almost any experienced

farmer or cattle raiser will bear out these estimates as not very far above the mark. If such be the case then is it not evident that the sooner the’“horned cattle” of the country become minus the horns the better? Which of our progressive farmers will be the first to adopt the practice in Jasper county? We don’t advise any of them to corral their whole herd of cattle and make an indiscuminate prunning of all their horns, until they have tested the matter; but, if anyone has any kind of a horned beast that seems particularly inclined to use the said horns to the jeopardy * of human life, or of horses or other stock, then we advise the owner of that animal to secure him firmly between two strong stanchions, take a fine saw and cut off the offending horns, close down to the hair; then turn him loose and observe the effects, and if it proyes safe and beneficial in that case, it can be generally adopted.