80 



CATTLE. 



meno€S. From the superiority of the soil, however, tliis is not carried 

 to the ruinous extent here that it is in the Hebrides, in favoj-able 

 situations, some farmers winter their calves in open sheds, where they 



are fed with hay in the racks, 

 not cripple their grow^th. 



This makes them hardier, and does 



WEST HIGHLAND FEEDING OX. 



The Argyleshire farmer is sometimes wrong in breeding from a 

 favorite cow too long. Although the Highlanders fatten rapidly for 

 a certain time, and begin early to fatten where the pastiirage will 

 give them opportunity, they do not thrive so "well when old. A cow, 

 ultimately destined for the drover, should not be permitted to breed 

 after six years old. She may make fair meat for home consumption, 

 but she will not fatten so quickly, or so truly, on all her points ; 

 and the drover will seldom purchase her except at a very inferior 

 price. 



It is now also established as a principle, that the same h\\.\ should 

 not be used too long. The hardiness of the cattle has been thought 

 to be materially affected by it. The bulls are generally disposed 

 of at six years old, when they are in full vigor, and valuable for some 

 distant herd. 



The Ayrshire cow has, however, nearly superseded the native 

 breed through the whole of Argyleshire for the purposes of the 

 dairy. She is promising to spread as rapidly and as widely through 

 the middle and northern parts of Scotland as the short- horn has done 



