GENERAL CARE OF CATTLE. 329 



must be kept in view that overflesh very readily 

 runs into disease, and that fatty degeneration 

 is more apt to attack the reproductive organs 

 than any other part of the animal organism. 

 As the animals which it is desired to fit for the 

 show-ring are sure to be those of the highest 

 personal merit, they are, therefore, the very 

 ones most valuable for breeding, and the very 

 last ones which ought to be subjected to the 

 perils of a show-yard training and feeding. I 

 feel sure that even where many go through the 

 ordeal successfully, that the most desirable 

 breeding animals are those which have never 

 been overfed, and whose systems have never 

 been put to a strain by the application of any 

 unnatural methods; those, in fine, which have 

 gone on year in and year out in the even tenor 

 of their way, living in peace and plenty in all 

 seasons, and reproducing themselves annually 

 with credit. Such beasts, I am confident, breed 

 better and breed longer than those which are 

 treated to long periods of excessive feeding for 

 the show-ring. 



The calves are decidedly better for being kept 

 apart from the older cattle. I think as a gen- 

 eral rule, that cattle of the same age or condi- 

 tion do best when kept to themselves. This 

 applies with especial force to the young stock. 

 There is thus much less risk of accidents and 

 injuries than when cattle of all ages are herded 



