REPORT ON THE TRANSIT OF STOCK. 4G 



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travelling, may "be admissible, and although it has many times 

 been pressed on the attention of farmers, it has received less 

 attention than it merits, viz., a thorough good grooming at the 

 journey's end, and by the way, if the journey be long. It is 

 scarcely possible to overestimate the benefits of this to the 

 travel-tired horse, whether he be about to appear in a market 

 or merely resting by the way. No greater argument in favour 

 of this is needed than a simple comparison of the animal's 

 appearance before and after the operation ; but it must be done 

 in earnest, and not the mere " wisp down " which farm servants 

 usually give. 



Cattle, — The bovine race in all its stages, from the calf to the 

 old cow, is so patient of control, and so easily driven in any 

 required direction, that from 20 to 30 animals may easily be 

 managed on the road by one man. 



Store cattle of all ages are frequently walked very consider- 

 able distances — two or three days' journey is not uncommon, 

 and West Highland cattle are often weeks by the way. Amongst 

 the heavier breeds of cattle, however, which do not bear travelling 

 like these mountaineers, 50 miles may be taken as nearly the 

 limit of distance that cattle are now sent by road. They are 

 usually driven at the rate of about 2 miles per hour, and will 

 get over from 20 to 25 miles per day. They are almost never 

 supplied with food during the journey, and seldom rested, being 

 kept constantly moving slowly on, drinking as they like of such 

 waters as they meet with, and picking up what they can from 

 the roadsides, until they reach the end of the stage, and are 

 turned into a field to graze, or to be supplied with hay, straw, 

 turnips, &c, according to the season of the year. Sometimes a 

 field cannot be got, or is dispensed with, and a common or a 

 quiet lane is taken advantage of. 



Fat cattle, especially those that have been fed in confinement 

 when first started on the road, are rather frisky, and require a 

 good deal of care to prevent damage to themselves or to fences, 

 fur which at first they seem to have a supreme contempt, but 

 after the first two or three miles they sober clown to a very 

 quiet pace, and give little more trouble. As may be supposed, 

 fat cattle do not bear the fatigues of travelling well, and there- 

 fore they are seldom walked more than 15 or 20 miles. Their 

 supplies of food are regulated according to their destination. If 

 going direct to the shambles, they are usually sent fasting ; if 

 going to market, the object being to make them appear to the 

 utmost advantage, they are fed accordingly. 



It may be well to notice, in passing, the difficulty generally 

 experienced in moving single animals of this class. Attach- 

 ment to their quarters and to their companions, added to the 

 excitement animals usually display when first liberated from 



