144 Management of Breeding Cattle. 



since, on pure Short-horns, which is equally applicable to any 

 breed of cattle at the present time : — 



" A small and fine head, a capacious cliest, the shoulders lyiui;: hack in the 

 hody, the ribs round and baiTcl-like, the back straight from the neck to the 

 top of the tail, the loins wide, the hind quarters long and straight, the tmst 

 full and deep, the bones small, and ofl'al light ; to these points of shape must 

 be added the great essential of good handling, which is the index of the pro- 

 pensity to fatten. A knowledge of handling cannot be communicated by 

 letter, and is acquired only by jiractice ; it consists in a peculiar feel of the 

 tiesh imder the skin. The skin should be ratlier loose, and imder it the flesh 

 should feel rather soft, yet firm and elastic ; when a beast has this jiarticular 

 liandling, and has long soft silky hair, it indicates the propensity to fatten." 



The point which I consider of most consequence is to secure 

 a deep and capacious chest, as animals possessing largely-de- 

 veloped lungs will fatten more quickly, and have greater strength 

 of constitution, than others not so favoured. 



Having provided the right sort of animals, it requires great 

 care and observation in the breeder to keep them in a healthy 

 and thriving condition, always having nature in view ; and while 

 we screen them from the great variations in our climate, we must 

 be careful to avoid extremes of any kind. I believe all l)reeding 

 stock do much better in winter in open sheds with yards attached, 

 where they may feed, than in entirely-closed houses. It is de- 

 sirable, however, to avoid keeping too many animals together in 

 one yard, lest the stronger should tyrannise over the weaker, and 

 keep them from obtaining their proper share of food and shelter. 

 I consider that four (selecting those which agree best together) 

 are as many as should occupy one shed and yard. Cattle should 

 be provided with shade in the summer, and in very hot days, 

 when the flies are troublesome, should be taken in ; they will 

 not feed during the heat of the day, and the frantic way in which 

 they often run about cannot but be injurious, particularly to 

 those in calf. Pure water is also most essential to the well-being 

 of cattle. The young animals require the most care ; while their 

 forms are being developed any check is injurious, and on their 

 management during the three first years the success of the 

 breeder will principally depend. 



Having commenced with these remarks, I will now confine 

 myself as much as possible to my own experience as a breeder 

 of pure Short-horns for more than twenty years. 



My early calves (those which drop from December to the end 

 of February) I allow to suck the cows for a fortnight, then take 

 them off and give them as much as they will drink of skimmed 

 milk and thick gruel made from boiled linseed in equal propor- 

 tions, twice a day ; as soon as they are inclined to eat, I supply 

 them with oilcake, carrots, and hay ; when three months old I 

 reduce the milk and linseed to once a day, and in three weeks 



