THE UNITED KINGDOM.- 115 



according to the system of feeding. A Sussex heifer last Christmas, which I exhibited, 

 under the age of four years, showed a weight of 148 stone of 8 pounds to the stone, 

 and a steer exhibited last year, aged two years and eleven months, weighed 196 stone. 

 Tlaese were specially fattened for exhibiting, but, as a rule, steers killed under three 

 years and fattened 'in the usual way would scale from 90 to 112 stone. They require 



ood loamy soil, and the better the grass the earlier they can be made to reach the 

 utcher. It is a great thing to keep all .voting stock well from birth, housing warmly 

 and feeding them liberally with a littlo linseed-cake and cracked corn from weaning 

 time. The steers are used very littlo for draft pur] 



With regard to the housing of the Sussex, one must bo guided by the accommoda- 

 tion which his farm buildings afford, but at all events young beasts should be kept 

 warmly housed.- I use for feeding, in addition to what I have referred to above, a 

 mixture of oil-cake and corn, and a few roots are advisable. As to breeding, this is a 

 great secret. Ascertain the weak points of a cow, and, if possible, counteract them 

 by selecting a bull perfect in the deficiencies of the other. I think more depends on 

 the selection of a good bull than anything else, and I do not consider any price too 

 exorbitant for a perfect, good colored and constituted animal. 



Mr. Page, another large breeder, says : 



The Sussex cattle, as a rule, are bad milkers, but capital flesh-makers, and if well- 

 bred, make it up quickly. I seldom keep them for milking, but bring up calves with 

 them. The following are the measurements and weights of a few Christmas beasts 

 which wore shown at Islington and took prizes : 



Sussex heifer, three years old, 7 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 9 inches = 55 score. Live 



weight 15 cwt., 1 quarter. 

 Sussex he.ifer, 1 year 11 months, 7 feet 7 inches by 4 feet 8 inches=52 score. 



Live weight 14 cwt., 3 quarters. 

 Sussex steer, 1 year 11 months, 7 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 4 inches = 46 score. 



Live weight 12 cwt., 3 quarters. 



At the above show, in December, 1883, the first prize steer, twenty-one months, 

 weighed 11 cwt. ; the second prize, twenty-two and a half months, 13^ cwt. The 

 .irs eleven and three-quarter months, weighed 19 cwt. ; the 

 id prize, t" ven and a half months, 14 cwt. The firstprize steer, three 



year- ': one-quarter months, was 18} cwt. ; the second prize, three years nine 



and three-quarters months, 20J cwt. The first prize heifer, three years and one- 

 quartermomh, scaled IGJcwt. ; the -second prize, three years two months, 14} cwt. The 

 lirst prize cow, live years eight months, weighed 14 cwt. ; the second prize, six and 

 three .15} cwt. The Sussex beast is a very large-framed red beast, en- 



tirely whole-colored, and rather higher on the legs than the Devon. Although it is 

 BO largely grazed upon the Sussex Downs, the breeders prefer the hair to be long and 

 silk\ . 'lerally having a mellower skin and feed better. In the majority of 



work the steers from three years old until they are six or 



seven, when t hey are generally put up to fatten, which they do rapidly. The heifers 

 are seldom bred' from until they aro two and a quarter years, producing their first 

 calf at tl In working, all the oxen are kept in good condition, for if too 



low it is most difficult to bring them back to a fleshy state afterwards. 

 The points of the Sussex are as follows : Eye rather prominent ; wide across the 

 iiuiu in length and cleanly made under, with a small dewlap, the 

 top part of which is straight to the head. The nose ia rather wide and thin between 

 the nostril and the eye, the tops of the plate bones are not overwide, the sides straight 

 and without any projection at the shoulder point ; the breast is wide and projecting 

 forward; Htrai.ulit fore-legs, bone rather fine, medium in length; back straight be- 

 hind the shoulder-blades and with the hollowness which is generally seen when the 

 blades are wide ; body very round, with a straight chine; broad ribs, decidedly nar- 

 row between tin- fust rib and the hip bone; loin flat and nearly as wide at the fore 

 as at the hind end, each side lying on a level with the chine, and almost parallel if 

 the i il sprung this will generally be the case ; hip bones broad, with a wide 



space, between, and lying nearly as high as the chine; the rump should be long and 

 nd wide at the setting on of the tail ; the tail should drop exactly between the tip 

 of the rump and what is generally known as the first touch; the outside of the thigh 

 is Hat, without fullness behind. 



In breeding, the calf is seldom allowed to take all the milk of the cow, which is 

 1 -.} ken from it all day. It is allowed to suck two of the teats after the milkmaid has 

 drawn the other two, getting in addition to this a small quantity of bran or ground 

 which is left for it in a small trough. At a month old it is usually allowed to 

 run with her throughout the day, but is taken from her for the night. A portion of 

 the inoraiug's milk is then taken and the calf allowed the remainder. This is the 

 general practice until the calf is weaned. It is then fed upon cut grass, clover, hay, 

 and bran until it is turned out upon the pasture, when the meal feeding is increased 



