CATTLE DAIRY HUSBANDRY. 



its ravages for twelve years, destroying hundreds 

 of thousands of cattle. The outbreak in Britain 

 in 1865-67 was distinctly traceable to Russia. Its 

 ravages were frightful ; in Edinburgh, for example, 

 four-fifths of the dairy cows perished in the course 

 of five months. In two years nearly 300,000 

 were attacked, and by far the greater part either 

 died or were slaughtered. In herds numbering 

 from 50 to loo animals, frequently not more than 

 one or two ultimately recovered. 



Among the symptoms, the following are the 

 most prominent : The animal is dull, and hangs its 

 head ; the eyes are leaden and watery, and from 

 both eyes and nose there latterly comes a dirty 

 slimy discharge. Death usually occurs about the 

 seventh day. No remedy hitherto tried seems to 

 have any effect even in modifying the course of 

 the disease. The ' stamping-out plan ' that is, 

 slaughtering at once not only the animals affected, 

 but also all the healthy animals that have been 

 exposed to the contagion, was first thoroughly 

 carried out in Aberdeenshire, where eight distinct 

 outbreaks of the plague were promptly got rid of. 

 This example encouraged parliament to pass a 

 measure granting increased powers to the Privy 

 Council to regulate the traffic in cattle, and by 

 means of 'Local Authorities' in each district of the 

 kingdom to stamp out this insidious disease, and 

 to remunerate (at least in part) the owners of 

 stock so destroyed. The effects of this energetic 

 proceeding were speedily apparent, and the plague 

 was stayed. In 1872 a fresh outbreak took place 

 on some farms in Yorkshire, traced to some foreign 

 cattle imported at Hull, but here again the 

 * stamping-out ' prevented its extension. Orders 

 in council also insure a proper inspection by 

 veterinary surgeons of all cattle from foreign 

 countries on their arrival here ; and by the estab- 

 lishment of county and district local authorities, 

 all animals infected with any contagious disease 

 are so treated as to prevent further infection ; and 

 now pleuro-pneumonia may be stamped out in the 

 same way as rinderpest. The regulations as to 

 all these matters may be obtained from any district 

 constable. 



FATTENING FOR MARKET. 



Rules for Selecting Cattle. 



In selecting cattle for feeding, the first point is 

 to fix upon the breed suitab'e for the character of 

 the accommodation, and for the food intended to 

 be supplied also, whether for winter or summer 

 feeding. The next consideration is the age, and 

 certain indications as to the fattening qualities of 

 individual specimens or lots : those animals whose 

 forms are symmetrical, having the back straight, 

 ribs well arched, chest deep and full forward 

 between the fore-legs, quarters long and broad, 

 legs rather short than long, the joints being large, 

 fatten rapidly. But the most certain indication of 

 a quick feeder is a soft, mellow, vascular skin 

 with a covering of silky hair. The character of 

 the horns, when these are present, also indicates 

 the feeding qualities. The horn differs in the 

 sexes, castration producing a great change in its 

 form. In all cases, the horns should be placed 

 wide rather than close, growing outward and 

 forward. 



To judge of the age of cattle by outward signs, 



considerable experience is necessary. The denti- 

 tion is the most certain guide ; still, there are con- 

 siderable variations, due in some measure to such 

 causes as feeding and breed. Professor Simonds 

 has found, from a long series of observations, that 

 the following are the averages of the appearance 

 of the incisor teeth : 



1 year 9 months to a y. 3 m. Two permanent incisors. 



2 years 3 a 9 Four 

 * 9 3 3 Six 



3 3 u 3 ,/ 9 u Eight 



The dentition is completed about the fourth 

 year ; consequently a four-year-old animal will be 

 what is called ' full-mouthed.' The incisors shew 

 the age, becoming worn and flat with time and 

 use. The animal gets four successive sets, chang- 

 ing them in the order in which they first came in. 

 The horns also indicate age, rings appearing each 

 spring. The first ring appears at three, some- 

 times, however, at two years, particularly in the 

 female which has produced. In the market for 

 dairy-stock, the use of the file and sand-paper is 

 sometimes traceable on the horns of middle-aged 

 cows. 



Methods of Housing and Feeding. 



Cattle are fattened for market by several 

 methods. Besides grazing in the fields during the 

 season of grass, they are fattened in courts or 

 boxes, receiving regular supplies of green food 

 grass, tares, &c. Usually, cake and corn are given 

 as auxiliaries. 



It is in the winter-feeding of cattle that the 

 greatest difference of opinion exists among practi- 

 cal men, both as to the mode of housing and the 

 manner of feeding. 



Fold-yards with sheds are the most common 

 method of housing. When these are constructed 

 so as to divide the cattle into small lots, and the 

 shedding is ample and comfortable, cattle are 

 found to make equal progress with those confined 

 in byres or loose-boxes, provided the climate is 

 not severe. Where the rainfall is excessive, and 

 where the cold, either from altitude, exposure, 

 or latitude, is considerable, cattle make greater 

 progress confined in byres or in loose-boxes. 



Stall-feeding is the common term where the 

 animals are fastened up in stalls or tied to stakes. 

 From the restraint preventing exercise, young 

 cattle, one and two year olds, generally suffer 

 from diseases of the joints after they have been 

 kept in one position for two to four months. 

 When the knee and hock joints become inflamed 

 and swollen, further progress is arrested, and the 

 animal requires to be placed in a loose box or 

 open shed to recover. If the removal takes place 

 upon the first appearance of joint disease, the rate 

 of progress is little checked ; but when delayed 

 for one month or more, the ?.nimal seldom recovers 

 so as to repay the value of the food consumed in 

 fattening. The advantages of stall-feeding con- 

 sist in the economy of house accommodation and 

 of food, and in the equal distribution that it 

 secures of concentrated feeding-substances. 



Box-feeding has lately been much advocated. 

 When the boxes are properly constructed, and 

 the comfort of the animals otherwise studied, this 

 system presents, on the whole, advantages which 

 neither of the more common methods possesses 



