CATTLE. 



CATTLE. 



stock of the country, though diversified and 

 contaminated by various mixtures. No pains 

 have been taken, by systematic efforts, by judi- 

 cious selection, and by perseverance in endea- 

 vours to combine the best qualities and to era- 

 dicate or remedy defects, in order to form, from 

 what we call our native stock, a distinct 

 and valuable breed. Indeed, where the im- 

 proved blood has been introduced, it has been 

 suffered, after a short time, to run out through 

 neglect, or to become degenerate by poor keep- 

 ing." 



As regards the capacity for thrift in the differ- 

 ent breeds, Mr. Colraan thinks that the perfec- 

 tion of any animal depends essentially upon his 

 good keeping from his birth ; and that severity 

 or hard fare, or negligence while in a growing 

 state, do an injury to the constitution, and so 

 stint the growth, that no after keeping can ever 

 repair it. The animal constitution always suf- 

 fers essentially by reverses. It is said that a 

 sheep is never fat but once. Perhaps this as- 

 sertion is to be received with some qualifica- 

 tion, but still it must be admitted as a difficult 

 task to raise an animal from a low condition. 

 "The farmers prejudice very greatly their own 

 interest in suffering their milch cows to come 

 out in the spring in low condition. During the 

 time they are dry, they think it enough to give 

 them the coarsest fodder, and that in limited 

 quantities ; this, too, at a time of pregnancy, 

 when they require the kindest treatment and 

 the most nourishing food. The calf itself un- 

 der this treatment of the cow is small and 

 feeble. He finds comparatively insuflicient 

 support from his exhausted dam ; and the re- 

 turn which the cow makes in milk during the 

 summer is much less than it would be, if she 

 came into the spring in good health and flesh. 

 It requires the whole summer to recover what 

 she has lost. The animal constitution cannot 

 be trifled with in this way. 



" It is so with all live-stock, and especially 

 with young animals at the period of their most 

 rapid growth. They should not be prematurely 

 forced ; but, on the other hand, they should not 

 be stinted or checked. It is a very important 

 question, whether it is more profitable to fatten 

 younij animals than older ones. I have given 

 the different opinions of different farmers on 

 this subject. In England, it seems an almost 

 universal opinion, that the sooner an animal 

 can be made fit for the market the better, and 

 their fatted animals, especially of the im- 

 proved breeds, are slaughtered at two and three 

 years old. They are often brought to market 

 at even an earlier age than this ; but it is con- 

 sidered, and with reason, that the meat of such 

 animals is not so good as when they have at- 

 tained a full growth. It is natural to suppose 

 that the animal can only be in perfection when 

 he has ceased to grow, and if killed before that 

 period, there would seem to be a loss of that 

 enlargement of size and weight, separate from 

 an increase of fatness, to which he might at- 

 tain. While an animal is growing and well 

 fed at the same time, there is ^evidently a 

 double. gain ; and if he increases one pound a 

 day by his extra feed, he may be supposed to 

 increase another pound by his ordinary growth. 

 After this period, however, it may be advisable 

 38 



to send him to market as soon as he can be 

 put into condition. Farmers often make great 

 mistakes in keeping their cattle too long. 

 There is a reasonable calculation to be made 

 in respect to the markets, which are generally 

 higher in the spring than in the autumn ; but 

 the advance in price does not always meet the 

 increased expense of keeping. It is import- 

 ant, as a general rule, that the animal should 

 go to market as soon as the gain which he 

 makes ceases to pay the expense of his keeping. 



" It has been made a question, whether 

 heifers are not more profitable than steers. 

 They are as thrifty, and, in general, pay as well 

 for their keeping. It is the practice of some 

 farmers, to allow them to come in with calves 

 at two years old ; if at that time they promise 

 well as cows, a good market can almost always 

 be found for them ; but, if otherwise, after 

 suckling the calf three months or more, they 

 are turned out to be fatted for beef, and are 

 either sold immediately at the close of the pas- 

 turing season, or otherwise, after being stall- 

 fed for a short time. Their meat, if well fed, 

 is always highly esteemed. This proves, in 

 general, a good operation. In England, heifers 

 designed for the stall are very frequently 

 tpayed, by which their thrift is greatly assisted. 



"This is often done in Kentucky and some 

 other of the Western States ; but I have never 

 known more than one instance of its being 

 practised in New England, I do not feel au- 

 thorized, therefore, to pronounce upon its ad- 

 vantages. 



" It is sometimes asked, whether oxen are 

 injured in their growth from being worked. If 

 their strength is prematurely and too severely 

 taxed, or if they are subjected to severe usage, 

 undoubtedly it must prove injurious; but, if 

 otherwise, if reasonably worked and carefully 

 and kindly attended, there is no doubt that 

 their health and growth are promoted by it. 

 It is often matter of inquiry, whether fatting 

 cattle should be kept in close stalls, or be suf- 

 fered to lie out-doors. The experience of all 

 the farmers whom I have consulted, who have 

 made any trial, is conclusive in this case, in 

 favour of the superior thrift of animals kept 

 constantly in the barn, or turned out only for 

 watering and immediately put up again, over 

 those which are kept in open sheds, or tied up 

 for feeding only, and at other times allowed 

 to lie in the yard. No exact experiments have 

 been made in this country in relation to this 

 subject; but experiments made abroad lead to 

 the conclusion, that cattle thrive best in a high 

 and equable temperature, so warm as to keep 

 them constantly in a state of active perspira- 

 tion, and that their thrift is much hindered by 

 an exposure to severe alternations of heat and 

 cold. It is certain, that in order to thrift, cattle 

 cannot be made too comfortable ; their man- 

 gers should be kept clean ; their stalls be well 

 littered; and the cattle protected from currents 

 of air blowing through crevices or holes in the 

 floors or the sides of the stables, which prove 

 often much more uncomfortable than an open 

 exposure." 



As at present conducted in Massachusetts, 

 and at the present prices of provender and 

 beef, Mr. Colman thinks the business of fat- 



297 



