CATTLE. 



CATTLE. 



shoulder across the ox, and perpendicu- 

 lar lines down the hind and fore-legs 

 on both sides, these constituting the 

 square form when the ox is viewed 

 before and behind, as represented in 

 figures 2 and 3 ; and we have straight 

 parallel lines from the sides of the 

 shoulders, along the outmost points of 

 the ribs, to the sides of the hind quar- 

 ters ; and we have these lines connect- 

 ed at their ends by others of shorter 

 and equal length, across the end of the 

 rump and the top of the shoulder, thus 

 constituting the rectangular form of the 

 ox when viewed from above down upon 

 the back, as represented by fig. 4 ; the 

 form of the short ox and heifer, in per- 

 fect accordance with the diagrams of 

 the rule. Farther, I should be inclined 

 to assert, though I have not directed 

 my attention sufficiently to the fact to 

 be able to prove the assertion from ex- 

 amples, that the carcass of a full fed, 

 symmetrical, short-horn ox, included 

 within the rectangle, is in length dou- 

 ble its depth, and in depth equal to its 

 breadth ; hence figures 2 and 3 are 

 squares, and figures 1 and 4 each two 

 similar squares, placed in juxtaposi- 

 tion. The form of the short-horn breed 

 is perfect according to this rule. 



The cow goes with calf about forty 

 weeks, and is often capable of breed- 

 ing when only a year old ; but she 

 should not be allowed to do so until 

 she is above two years old. When 

 the calves are intended for veal, Janu- 

 ary, February, and March are the best 

 months for calving. On the question 

 of breodint; live stock in general, and 

 upon the difficult question of the com- 

 parative influence of the male and fe- 

 male parents in impressing their off- 

 spring, a theme propounded by the Highland 

 Society, there are some excellent papers by 

 Mr. Boswell, Mr. Christian, and Mr. Mill (High. 

 Soc. Trans, vol. i. p. 17), by the Rev. Henry Ber- 

 ry (/>Vt/. farm. Mag. vol. i.), and by Mr. Knight 

 (Trans. Roy. Soc. 1S09), in which they all seem 

 to uphold the superior influence of the male ; 

 and on the selection of the male animal in 

 breeding there is a paper by Lord Spencer 

 (Juum. Roy. A%r. Soc. vol. i. p. 22); another on 

 the gestation of cows (Ilrid. 165); and on the 

 means of calculating the number of calves 

 which will probably be produced by a herd of 

 cows, by the same noble lord (Ibid. vol. ii. p. 

 112); and on the detection of pregnancy in the 

 horse and cow by Professor Youatt (Ibid. p. 

 170) ; on a method of obtaining a greater num- 

 ber of one sex at the option of the owner in the 

 breeding of livestock (Quart. Journ. of Aer. vol. 

 i. p. 63); on the rearing of calves, in which the 

 writer recommends that skimmed milk should 

 have a piece of red-hot iron plunged into it, not 

 only to warm it, but to give an astringent qua- 

 lity (Com. Board of A%r. vol. iv. p. 382); on the 

 mode of fattening them in Strathaven there is 

 an account by Mr. Aiton in the Quart. Journ. of 

 dgr. p. 249 ; and of the mode of fattening them 

 near London by Mr. Main (Ibid. vol. v. p. 608). 



" Every cow is made to suckle her own calf 

 three times a day for the first three or four 

 days, and afterwards twice a day, and, in need, 

 her bag is emptied by another calf. If a calf 

 goes on thriving and well, it will be what is 

 esteemed in England prime veal in about ten 

 weeks, and weigh from 17 to 20 stones of 8 Ibs. 

 each." 



The North Devon. Of this breed the bull 

 should have yellow horns, placed neither too 

 low nor too hisrh, nor be too thick, but grow- 

 ing gradually less towards the points ; the eye 

 clear, prominent, and bright; the forehead 

 small, flat, and indented ; the muzzle fine ; the 

 cheek small ; the nose of a clear yellow, the 

 nostril high and open ; the neck thick, and the 

 hair about the head curled. The head of the 

 ox is smaller, otherwise he does not differ ma- 

 terially from the shape of the bull; his action 

 is free, and he is quicker in his movements 

 than any of our oxen ; but his legs are appa- 

 rently placed too much under his chest for 

 speed, yet he possesses this property in an 

 eminent degree ; his legs are straight ; the fore- 

 arm is large and strong ; the bones of the leg, 

 especially below the knee, very small ; the tail 

 is set on high, on a level with the back, rareiy 

 much elevated, never depressed, is long and 



285 



