STOCK. 173 



which the competitors in growing the best stock of all kinds are 

 so generously fostered. If all these associatigns are as well man- 

 aged, and present as good a show as that at Fitchburg, we are 

 on the high road to great results, not only in improved stock, 

 but improved farming. 



R. Goodman, Chairman. 



HIGHLAND. 



From the Report of the Committee on Calves. 



In rearing and buying calves, the best will always pay the 

 best ; but it will not always pay to sell the best. There is an 

 old adage, that " blood will tell." Then know that the blood 

 of the dam is what you want ; that she has never been served 

 by anything except the blood you wish to perpetuate. Once 

 served by impure blood endangers all future progeny. What- 

 ever the dam and sire may be, no progeny can be said to be 

 strictly thoroughbred if the dam has ever been served by an 

 impure animal. Cultivate those qualities you wish to perpet- 

 uate, remembering that " like begets like." 



Breeding-animals should be treated with the utmost kindness. 

 Avoid all irritation, excitement or fear. The mental condition 

 of dam and sire, and the continued mental condition of the dam 

 during pregnancy, (if the word mental may be applied to 

 brutes,) has very much to do with fixing the temperament of 

 the offspring, and may influence the physical conformation. 

 Having used every precaution, that your calf has come into the 

 world under the most favorable circumstances, it should receive 

 constantly uniform attention ; not overfed, but a generous 

 amount of feed should be regularly given, and at stated times. 

 A variation of half an hour in time of feeding will cause one- 

 half hour of uneasiness and wasting of flesh. Let the feed be 

 of such quality and amount that the animal will be kept con- 

 stantly thriving. An animal that is growing to-day will be more 

 likely to grow to-morrow. Every day that an animal is kept 

 without growth is so much loss in feed, time and care. Any 

 shortening of feed, so that the growth is checked, is a loss for 

 that day, and may be a loss for days to come, as an animal that 

 is stationary, without growth, may take time to get again in 

 growing condition. 



