152 Management of Breeding Cattle. 



agricultural tour in Ireland, where it was considered certain to 

 produce the desired effect. If it can be fully relied on (and this 

 case of my own is so far confirmatory), it is of great value to 

 the breeder. I believe it is little known in this country, as I have 

 often mentioned it to those who have inspected my herd, and 

 found icw who had before heard of such a mode of treatment. 



The terms of this Essay provide also that we should state " the 

 causes which operate adversely to regular fecundity and success- 

 ful gestation in particular seasons." This is exceedingly difficult 

 to do, as such causes are for the most part atmospheric ; we can 

 protect our animals from the extremes of heat and cold, and from 

 the elements, but there are states of the atmosphere which, 

 though they undoubtedly tend to engender diseases and irregu- 

 larities in man and beast, yet are in no way reached by our per- 

 ceptions, and against which consequently we are unable to 

 provide. 



I think, however, that disorders in cattle are sometimes attri- 

 buted to the influence of seasons which arise from the oversight 

 of the breeder. I remember, some years ago, a tenant in the 

 vale of Berkeley left his farm because the majority of his cows 

 slipped their calves every year. His successor removed a pond 

 in the yard into which some drains entered, and from which the 

 cows were supplied with water, and his cows ceased to suffer 

 from abortion. My experience on this head is, fortunately, so 

 very limited, that I have but little to say from that source. 1 

 remember that abortion prevailed in one particular season in the 

 late Earl of Ducie's herd, and that it was hinted by some that 

 the cause of it might be found in the rye grass of the Tortworth 

 pastures, which during that season was extensively ergotised, 

 ergot of rye being known to produce abortion in some cases ; 

 but I think no person of experience would ever believe that 

 such a small quantity as could be swallowed in that way would 

 be sufficiently strong to act on the nerves of a ruminating 

 animal, whatever might be the case with a non-ruminant, and 

 I know that the Noble Lord himself had no belief that the rye 

 grass had anything to do with it. As to the question of abortion 

 being contagious, I do not believe it to be so in the medical 

 sense of the word ; but there is no doubt but that one case of 

 abortion may produce others, and this I believe arises from that 

 sort of nervous sympathy which exists between cows, instances 

 of which will be readily remembered by all experienced persons. 

 Therefore I hold it to be advisable, when a cow has slipped her 

 call, to separate her from others that may be in calf at the time, 

 and I have no doubt but that the separation will tend to prevent 

 the spread of the mischief. 



In the above remarks I have given my own experience as to 

 the management of a herd of breeding-cattle, and I have dc- 



