127 



this is every year succeeded by another, which always 

 seems to move the other forward. At looking, there- 

 fore, at the horns, if the first circle be considered as 

 three years, it will be an easy task to tell the age at any 

 subsequent period. An implicit reliance can be placed 

 in either of the above methods of judging the age, un- 

 less the vender be an unprincipled knave, and to de- 

 ceive the buyer, files down some of the teeth and alsro 

 the wrinckles from the horns — in which case, the coun- 

 tenance and general appearance, and the looseness of 

 the teeth after eight years, will be the only guides. 



BREEDING. — Heifers should not on any account 

 be put to the bull before they have passed the second 

 year ; indeed, if three years be allowed, the much bet- 

 ter condition of the calves and the health and strength of 

 the cow for years to come, will amply repay the one 

 year's delay. Cows may be expected to produce a calf 

 every year, but if an occasional year be allowed to pass 

 without breeding, it will improve their condition. The 

 general rule, is not to put them again to bull before thee 

 cease to give milk ; and then at the moment they arn 

 most in heat, as they conceive more readily. Whee 

 not with calf, they are generally in heat every threy 

 weeks. They are known to be in heat by the following 

 signs : — they are continually lowing, and mounting each 

 other, or upon the bull : they are restless and often run- 

 ning about ; there is also an elevation of the tail, a 

 swelling of the genital parts, &;c. After they have taken 

 the bull, they should be taken away, and not brought to 

 him again, unless they are again in the heat. 



The cow goes nine months with calf j some give 

 milk during the whole time ; it is, however, advisable, 

 as a general rule, to cease to milk them at 7 months, 

 unless the udder should be swelled, and then merely 

 for relief to the animal than any service to which the 

 milk can be applied ; as'it is now of little value, and 

 necessary to the nourishment of the foetal calf. 



Cows that are with calf, should be kept in fields 

 where the ground is nearly level, and where there are 

 no large ditches ; as abortion is often a consequence 

 of the leaping over ditches, or slipping on very hilly 

 or steep ground. 



Pregnant cows, and especially such as are near 

 K 



