86 Live Stock. 



sition. 7. That where the pastures are good, cattle and 

 sheep will increase in size, without any particular attention 

 on the part of the breeder ; large animals are naturally there- 

 fore the proper stock for such pastures. 8. That the art of 

 fattening cattle, and even sheep, with oil-cake, being much 

 improved and extended, the advantage of that practice 

 would be of less consequence, unless large oxen were bred, 

 as small oxen can be fattened with grass and turnips, as 

 well as oil-cake : And lastly, That large oxen are better cal- 

 culated for working than small ones, two large oxen being 

 equal to four small ones in the plough or the cart. 



Such are the arguments generally made use of on both 

 sides of the question ; from which it appears, that much 

 must depend upon pastures, taste, mode of consumption, mar- 

 kets, &c. and that both sizes have their peculiar advantages. 

 The intelligent breeder, however, (unless his pastures are of 

 a nature peculiarly forcing), will naturally prefer a mode- 

 rate size, in the stock which he rears. 



2. Form. 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 ( 8l ); and 

 which, depending much upon caprice, must be often chan- 

 ging- 



In regard to form, the most experienced breeders seem 



to concur in the following particulars : 1. 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 ; 

 2. That the chest should be broad ; for no animal whose 

 chest is narrow, can easily be made fat ( 8a ) ; 3. That the car- 

 case should be deep and straight; 4. 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 labour, the value of the extra 

 quantity of food which it consumes ( 83 ); 5. 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, 6. That the head, the 

 bones, and other parts of inferior value, should be as small 

 ns 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 



