THE UNITED 'KINGDOM. 115 



according to the system of feeding. A Sussex heifer last Christmas, which- 1 exhibited, 

 under the age of four years, showed a weight of 148 stone of 8 pounds to the stone, 

 and a steer exhibited last year, aged two years and eleven months, weighed 196 stone. 

 These were specially fattened for exhibiting, but, as a rule, steers killed under three 

 years and fattened in the usual way would scale from 90 to 112 stone. They require 

 good loamy soil, and the better the grass the earlier they can be made to reach the 

 butcher. It is a great thing to keep all young stock well from birth, housing warmly 

 and feeding them liberally with a little linseed-cake and cracked corn from weaning 

 time. The steers are used very little for draft purposes. 



With regard to the housing of the Sussex, one must be guided by the accommoda- 

 tion which his farm buildings afford, but at all events young beasts should be kept 

 warmly housed. I use for feeding, in addition to what I have referred to above, a 

 mixture of oil-cake and corn, and a few roots are advisable. As to breeding, this is a 

 great secret. Ascertain the weak points of a cow, and, if possible, counteract them 

 by selecting a bull perfect in the deficiencies of the other. I think more depends on 

 the selection of a good bull than anything else, and I do not consider any price too 

 exorbitant for a perfect, good colored and constituted animal. 



Mr. Page, another large breeder, says : 



The Sussex cattle, as a rule, are bad milkers, but capital flesh-makers, and if well- 

 bred, make it up quickly. I- seldom keep them for milking, but bring up calves with 

 them. The following are the measurements and weights of a few Christmas beasts 

 which were shown at Islington and took prizes : 



Sussex heifer, three years old, 7 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 9 inches = 55 score. Live 



weight 15 cwt., 1 quarter. 

 Sussex heifer, 1 year 11 months, 7 feet 7 inches by 4 feet 8 inches = 52 score. 



Live weight 14 cwt., 3 quarters. 



Sussex steer, 1 year 11 months, 7 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 4 inches = 46 score. 

 Live weight 12 cwt., 3 quarters. 



At the above show, in December, 1883, the first prize steer, twenty-one months, 

 weighed 11^ cwt. ; the second prize, twenty-two and a half months, 13 cwt. The 

 first-prize steer, two years eleven and three-quarter months, weighed 19 cwt. ; the 

 second prize, two years seven and a half months, 14 cwt. The first prize steer, three 

 years eight and one-quarter months, was 18f cwt. ; the second prize, three years nine 

 and three-quarters months, 20 cwt. The first prize heifer, three years and one- 

 quarter month, scaled 16J cwt. ; the second prize, three years two months, 14 J cwt. The 

 first prize cow,- five years eight months, weighed 14 cwt. ; the second prize, six and 

 three-quarter years, 15f cwt. The Sussex beast is a very large-framed red beast, en- 

 tirely whole-colored, and rather higher on the legs than the Devon. Although it is 

 so largely grazed upon the Sussex Downs, the breeders prefer the hair to be long and 

 silky, these generally having a mellower skin and feed better. In the majority of 

 cases it is the custom to work the steers from three years old until they are six or 

 seven, when they are generally put up to fatten, which they do rapidly. The- heifers 

 are seldom bred from until they are two and a quarter years, producing their first 

 calf at three years. In working, all the oxen are kept in good condition, for if too 

 low it is most difficult to bring them back to a fleshy state afterwards. 



The points of the Swssex are as follows : Eye rather prominent ; wide across the 

 forehead ; neck medium in length and cleanly made under, with a small dewlap, the 

 top part of which is straight to the head. The nose is rather wide and thin between 

 the nostril and the eye, the tops of the plate bones are not overwide, the sides straight 

 and without any projection at the shoulder point ; the breast is wide and projecting 

 forward; straight fore-legs, bone rather fine, medium in length; back straight be- 

 hind the shoulder-blades and with the hollo wness which is generally seen when the 

 blades are wide ; body very round, with a straight chine ; broad ribs, decidedly nar- 

 row between the first rib and the hip bone ; loin flat and nearly as wide at the fore 

 as at the hind end, each side lying on a level with the chine, and almost parallel if 

 the ribs are well sprung this will generally be the case ; hip bones broad, with a wide 

 space between, and lying nearly as high as the chine ; the rump should be long and 

 flat and wide at the setting on of the tail ; the tail should drop exactly between the tip 

 of the rump and what is generally known as the first touch ; the outside of the thigh 

 is flat, without fullness behind. 



In breeding, the calf is seldom allowed to take all the milk of the cow, which is 

 taken from it all day. It is allowed to suck two of the teats after the milkmaid has 

 drawn the other two, getting in addition to this a small quantity of bran or ground 

 oats, which is left for it in a small trough. At a month old it is usually allowed to 

 run with her throughout the day, but is taken from her for the night. A portion of 

 the morning's milk is then taken and the calf allowed the remainder. This is tho 

 general practice until the calf is weaned. It is then fed upon cut grass, clover, hay, 

 and bran until it is turned out upon the pasture, when the moal feeding is increased , 



