Oji tlie Management of Breeding Cattle. 509 



that shows the slightest symptoms of this affection and hide it 

 from the rest, for, if they are allowed inspection or opportunity 

 for sympathy to act, it is certain to spread. This infirmity is 

 not considered to be influenced solely by the season ; it occurs 

 usually, in the first instance, from accidental causes, and it is 

 only when allowed to spread that it becomes serious in its 

 results ; much, however, may be done by proper management 

 and diet to prev^ent its entrance into a herd, still more to hinder 

 its prevailing- to such an extent as, if uncontrolled, it may be 

 expected to reach. Ttie propensity has its origin sometimes 

 from the too free use of turnips in severe weather, combined 

 with sudden changes of temperature ; I am not, however, pre- 

 pared to assert this to be an ordinary cause of abortion ; only 

 some half-dozen cases, and those at long intervals, having arisen 

 during the whole of my experience. 



Although, as already remarked, high condition does not pre- 

 vent cattle from breeding, it is nevertheless obvious, that to feed 

 a bull until his activity is lost is unwise, a medium weight 

 being the best and most successful. I have known a bull fed 

 on tares or other succulent food suffer the loss of his use- 

 fulness, and great caution is required to avoid a too free use 

 of such food. J do not, however, refrain from giving the bull a 

 little clover or Italian rye-grass in summer ; on the contrary, 1 

 believe it to be very beneficial when in combination with hay 

 and dry food. 



The diseases of cattle are numerous, but I shall notice those 

 only which tend to the destruction of the healthy breeding con- 

 dition. The pulmonary diseases common in some localities have 

 their origin, in a great measure, from insufficient shelter, irre- 

 gular feeding, or improper food, aggravated by infected, dirty, 

 and unhealthy houses ; but these diseases, which if neglected 

 generally prove fatal, may be prevented with success, by adopting 

 the suggestions which have been offered in this paper. The 

 suckling of calves in winter is often attended with a loss of 

 milk, from their imperfect action in drawing it completely off, 

 and, as every cowkeeper knows, a cow that has never suckled a 

 calf is always preferred for dairy purposes ; but calves cannot be 

 Ijrought up so well or so conveniently without allowing them 

 to follow their dams ; and it is only required of the herdsman, 

 Avhile the calf is young, that he be vigilant in seeing, when 

 the evening milking time arrives, that the superfluous milk 

 is removed. In the shed this is not troublesome, but when 

 out at grass the neglect of the herdsman in this particular mav 

 occasion the serious loss of one or more teats ; many a valuable 

 cow has been thus condemned to the butcher, which other- 

 wise might have been preserved in as thriving and breeding 



