514 On the Management of Breeding Cattle. 



losses occurred ; those fed from the kit being in a healthy state, 

 and there is likewise less risk of the calves swallowing hair 

 balls, made from licking each other, as is commonly the case 

 when they are kept in small and confined spaces two or three 

 together. 



I now come to the question of profit and loss in the manage- 

 ment of a herd of high-bred short-horns, and would first remark 

 that, as my herd is kept up mainly because it affords me pleasure, 

 I am bound to credit the account with the value of the enjoy- 

 ment derived from the work. That the " hobby," if I may be 

 allowed so to term it, may be made an expensive one, those 

 who have tried to keep a herd chiefly on bought food have 

 found to their cost ; and unless there is a sufficiency of land to 

 work along with the stock, to make a return for the manure 

 in corn and root crops, it is vain to expect anything but a heavy 

 loss in the balance sheet. There are those who have profitably 

 bred short-horns, but they are the comparatively few whose 

 attention has been exclusively devoted to it. As stated by Mr. 

 Caird, many farmers have found that it is unprofitable. For 

 my own part I could not recommend any one who makes every- 

 thing subservient to his herd, and whose sole attention is given 

 to it, to expect immediate profit. It requires long and careful 

 attention, much judicious and persevering crossing, to arrive at 

 mediocrity, and there are very few who attain to the supreme 

 excellence of breed possessed by those gentlemen who carry off 

 the prizes year after year at our leading exhibitions. 



It must be admitted, however, that success will certainly 

 accompany good breeding as a part of general farming, though 

 it may be doubtful when too exclusively attended to ; I would 

 therefore recommend farmers to cultivate with greater attention 

 the best breeds, and not by indifference and neglect produce in- 

 ferior species : by so doing they would ultimately benefit. The 

 disappointment whith breeders so often realise is owing to their 

 having expected at once to find their practice profitable. I 

 believe it may be fairly estimated that it requires at least ten 

 vears before a profitable return can with certainty be looked for. 

 I may remark, however, from personal experience, that under any 

 circumstances good cattle with pioper and efficient management 

 will pay the breeder much better than bad or inferior stock. 



Having briefly explained the practice adopted by me in the 

 rearing and breeding of short-horns, and having alluded to the 

 importance of the use of linseed-cake in the economy of the 

 feeder, I will conclude with some observations upon its manu- 

 facture, drawn from accurate and reliable sources, which may 

 prove acceptable and useful to the agriculturist. 



