CHAP. vr. CASTRATING AND SPAYING OF CALVES. 143 



feeding of bullocks. The plan of using separated milk along with 

 linseed meal, or such other substitute for the cream, is also proving 

 a prominent success in this country. Mr. James Somervell, in 

 his dairy at Sorn, Ayrshire, rears a large lot of calves every year on 

 separated-milk and oatmeal porridge the calves getting full milk for 

 the first fortnight, and separated milk, with porridge, thereafter. The 

 Fairfield Farming Company at Kippen, in Stirlingshire, also rear all 

 the calves dropped by their best milking cows. The plan adopted by 

 this Company is to give the calves full milk for the first fortnight, and 

 after that to give separated-milk, to which a little linseed meal has 

 been added. Hand separators of the greatest efficiency can now be 

 had at very reasonable prices, and this plan of economically rearing 

 stock will doubtless be more extensively adopted." 



The best time for castrating male, or spaying female calves, is about 

 the expiration of the first month, as at that period there is least danger, 

 provided they are in good health. This operation is, in some places, 

 deferred until the animals are two or even three years old, but to the 

 certain injury of their form, their size, the quality of the meat, and 

 their docility at labour. Formerly castration was effected by tying a 

 strong cord round the bag above the testicles. The nutriment of these 

 parts being thus cut off, they were either suffered to remain until they 

 dropped spontaneously, or were cut away, and the animal was perfectly 

 castrated. Modern ingenuity, however, has devised a better means of 

 removing the testicles, viz., by excision ; but, as this cannot be effected 

 without resorting to an experienced practitioner, we decline to give any 

 directions respecting an operation which, if unskilfully performed, must 

 prove greatly injurious to the animal. Let it, therefore, suffice to state, 

 that after the calves are castrated, or spa} T ed, as the difference of sex 

 may require, the animals should be kept quiet, and tolerably warm for 

 the first two or three days, and not be too highly fed. 



Mr. Gilbert Murray advocated ("Journal of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society/' 1890) the spaying of all heifers not required for breeding 

 purposes. He adds : " I believe the operation is neither difficult to 

 perform nor attended with much danger, whilst it is obvious that the 

 quality of the beef must be better. It is unnecessary to point out to 

 those who are practically acquainted with the management of cattle 

 the check to the progress of the animal through the periodic recur- 

 rence of natural causes. With the exception of those retained for 

 breeding purposes, all the young stock would go to the butcher at a 

 little over two years of age; the best time to bring them out is 

 between the first of April and the end of June. If the bulls have been 

 selected with judgment, each generation would improve for a long series 

 of years." 



