Characteristios of Bulls. 61 



ments of the descending hair on the right or left, in the lower part of the 

 thigh, indicate for their get a lower grade, and at a glance the inferiority of 

 the milk production. 



The yellow or nankeen color of the skin of the escutcheon is always a 

 favorable sign. 



The good reproducing bull will prove fecund until ten or fifteen years of 

 age, but it is a rare exception. 



Any one may be grossly deceived if he judges only by the appearance 

 or the shape of the prolific qualities of a bull. Experience or observation 

 alone can show that he has maintained his early ability. 



A vigorous bull, well fed, can serve one or more cows each day, but it 

 is of great importance that he shall not commence to serve until he is fif- 

 teen or eighteen months old, otherwise he will be speedily exhausted and 

 deformed. The improving mark of his cross and his vigor will be speedily 

 shortened. 



When the bull has attained the age of two and a half or three years, 

 the form alters, the hind- quarters become attenuated, the front quarter be- 

 comes much enlarged, his neck enlarges and thickens, &c. 



About this time, whether he is castrated or whether he is "twisted," he 

 preserves always the altered form of the bull, and is less sought for work, 

 and in less request for butchering. 



When the operations of castration and twisting are done too late, the 

 animal has less predisposition to fatten ; his flesh is harder and tougher ; 

 he is, however, in appearance in the same conditions of age, of quality, 

 and of nourishment, as those castrated earlier. 



Often bulls, whose character is docile and gentle, become wild and furi- 

 ous when they are used to serve. 



In certain regions, to tame them, they put a ring of iron in their nose ; 

 in others, where the good use of these rings is not known, they are obliged 

 to castrate or twist them. This operation suffices, generally, to control 

 their passion ; but, if not, they are sent to the butcher. 



Classification of Bull Reproducers. 



There are for bulls, as for cows, ten classes or families ; each class sub- 

 divided into several orders, and each order comprises three grades, high, 

 medium, and low. 



I only admit, in each class, three orders. If one wishes to proceed in 

 the application with more rigor, he will follow the sub-divisions of the 

 classification of the cows. I will designate the three orders of each class 

 by the denominations of good, medium, and bad. 



The signs indicating the qualities which render the bull likely to beget 

 good milk cows are placed, like those of the female, on the posterior parts. 

 They start from the bag, and rise up to the anus, covering, also, the gen- 

 ital parts, and the scrotum. 



With bulls, the escutcheons start from the anterior part of the bag, ex- 



