Live StockProperties to be regarded m-^Tamenefs Hardtnef*. 



fubfifting on fhorter herbage, and \vithout injuring the ground in the fame degree : 

 but vvher* the weight and value of the meat form the principal confederations, the 

 Jargeft animals the paftures are calculated to fupport, are fuppofed to be the moil 

 beneficial to the breeder and the public.* 



In the final ler-fi zed animals.there are } hovvevcr,advantages in their being capable 

 f being fattened wholly with grafs, without having recourfe to the more expenfiva 

 kinds of food, which muft be the cafe with thofe of a large kind, and on paflurea 

 of inferior qualities ; in their being procured with lefs difficulty, and more adapt 

 ed to particular filiations and circumftances of farmers ;.and from there being lefe 

 lofsin cafe of accidents taking place.-f 



On thefegrounds,as there appear fome things favourable to each fide, the atten 

 tion of the breeder {hould be principally directed by the nature and circumftances, 

 of his paftures,. as well as the command of other forts of food which he pofTerTes ; 

 the middle and fmaller breeds of live ftock being preferred on the lefs rich and in 

 ferior kinds, and the large forts in fuch- fituations as are more rich and fertile, and 

 wherever there is a fufficient command of food. 



It is, without doubt, a matter of much, utility and importance to have fuch breeds, 

 of domeftic animals as are pofTefTed of tame and gentle difpofitions, without being; 

 too dull or fluggifh in their habits, as fuch animals are not only lefs difpofed ra 

 ramble and break the paftures, but are capable of being reared, fed, and rendered 

 fat, with confiderably lefs food. In the production of this fort of difpofition much, 

 depends upon the modes of rearing the animals. Mr. Bakewell had all his ani 

 mals, even his bulls, fo tame and gentle, from early care in this refpecl:, that they. 

 Could be managed with the greateft eafe and facility. 



Hardinefs of conftitution is another property in live ftock that deferves the at- . 

 tention of the breeder. In expofed fituations it is an efTential and indifpenfable . 

 property; and under all circumftances, it muft be advantageous, for the far-, 

 mer that a breed is not liable to difeafe. Befides, hardy animals always thrive, 

 much better than fuch as are more tender and delicate in their nature. The cir- 

 cumftances which have been commonly fuppofed to denote this difpofition are thofe 

 of darknefs of colour and roughnefs of hair. Animals of other colours are how-, 

 ever frequently not deficient in this property : and it does not feem to depend 



* Knight in Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. II. 

 t Sir John Sinclair in the Farmer s Magazine, vol. III. 



