Book V. CHOICE OF FATTING STOCK. 723 



can be fattened with grass and turnips, as well as oil-cake ; and, lastly, that large oxen 

 are better calculated for working than small ones, two large oxen being equal to four 

 small ones in the plough or the cart. 



4474. Such are the arguments generally ?nade use of on both sides of the question ; from 

 which it appears that much must depend upon pastures, taste, mode of consumption^ 

 markets, &c, and that both sides have their advantages. The intelligent breeder, how- 

 ever, (unless his pastures are of a nature peculiarly forcing,) will naturally prefer a 

 moderate size in the stock he rears. Davis, of Longleat, one of the ablest agriculturistsi 

 England has produced, has given some useful observations on the subject of size. 

 He laments that the attempts which have been made to improve the breeds of cows, 

 horses, and sheep, have proceeded too much upon the principle of enlarging the size of 

 the animal ; whereas, in general, the only real improvement has been made in the pig, 

 and that was by reducing its size, and introducing a kind that will live hardier, and 

 come to greater perfection at an earlier age. 



4475. Though it is extremely desirable to bring the shape of cattle to as much perfection 

 as possible, yet profit and utility ought not to be sacrificed for mere beauty which may 

 please the eye but will not fill the pocket, and which, depending much upon caprice, 

 must be often changing. In regard to form, the most experienced breeders seem to 

 concur in the following particulars : That the form or shape should be compact, so 

 that no part of the animal should be disproportioned to the other parts, and the whole 

 distinguished by a general fulness and rotundity of shape ; that the chest should be 

 broad, for no animal whose chest is narrow can easily be made fat ; that the carcase 

 should be deep and straight ; that the belly should be of a moderate size; for when it is 

 more capacious than common in young animals it shews a diseased state, and in older 

 ones it is considered a proof that the animal will not return in flesh, in milk, or in labor, 

 the value of the extra quantity of fruit which it consumes ; that the legs should be 

 short, for the long-limbed individuals of the same family or race are found to be the 

 least hardy, and the most difficult to rear or to fatten ; and that the head, the bones, 

 and other parts of inferior value, should be as small as is consistent with strength, and 

 with the other properties which the animal ought to possess. In animals bred for the 

 shambles, the form must likewise be such as to contain the greatest possible proportion 

 of the finer compared to the coarser and less valuable parts of the animal. This, by 

 selection, may be attained, and thus the wishes of the consumer may be gratified. As 

 to the broad loins and full hips, which are considered as a point of excellence in parti- 

 cular breeds, it is evident that the old narrow and thin make, required improvement; but 

 the alteration is now carried to a faulty excess, and often occasions great difficulty and 

 danger in calving. 



4476. The form of animals has fortunately attracted the attention of an eminent sur- 

 geon, Henry Cline, Esq. of London, whose doctrines we have already laid down at 

 length (1995.), and the substance of which is : That the external form is only an indi- 

 cation of the internal structure ; that the lungs of an animal is the first object to be 

 attended to, for on their size and soundness the health and strength of an animal prin- 

 cipally depend ; that the external indications of the size of the lungs are the form and 

 size of the chest, and its breadth in particular ; that the head should be small, as by this 

 the birth is facilitated ; as it affords other advantages in feeding, &c. and as it generally 

 indicates that the animal is of a good breed ; that the length of the neck should be in 

 proportion to the size of the animal, that it may collect its food with ease; and that the 

 muscles and tendons should be large, by which an animal is enabled to travel with 

 greater facility. It was formerly the practice to estimate the value of animals by the size 

 of their bones. A large bone was considered to be a great merit ; and a fine-boned 

 animal always implied great size. It is now known that this doctrine was carried too 

 far. The strength of an animal does not depend upon the bones, but on the muscles ; 

 and when the bones are disproportionably large, it indicates, in Cline's opinion, an 

 imperfection in the organs of nutrition. Bakewell strongly insisted on the advantage 

 of small bones ; and the celebrated John Hunter declared that small bones were gene- 

 rally attended with corpulence in all the various subjects he had an opportunity of 

 examining. A small bone, however, being heavier and more substantial, requires as 

 much nourishment as a hollow one with a larger circumference. 



4477. Among the qualities for which thorough-bred cattle and sheep are distinguished, 

 that of being good growers, and having a good length of frame, is not the least essen- 

 tial. The meaning of which is, that the animal should not only be of a strong and 

 healthy constitution, but speedily should grow to a proper size. As specimens of rapid 

 growth, a steer of three years old, when well fed, will weigh from 80 to 90 or 100 stone, 

 14 lb. to the stone ; and a two-year old Leicester wedder, from 25 to 28 lb. per quarter, 

 immediately after his second fleece is taken from him. Animals having the property of 

 growing, are usually straight in their back and belly ; their shoulders well thrown back, 

 and their belly rather light than otherwise. . At the same time, a gauntness and paucity 



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