246 CATTLE AND DAlKY FARMING. 



eye bright ; head short, fine, and small $ horns ordinarily fine and white 

 at the base, are black at the extremities, varying, however, and are 

 sometimes black or yellow, or entirely black throughout, which latter 

 type of horns is greatly esteemed ; they also vary in length and size, 

 the shorthorns being preferred. This cow is long from the shoulder to 

 the buttocks compared with its height, and has short and small neck and 

 little ears, the head perfectly detached ; little or no dewlap is noticea- 

 ble ; the withers and back are on the same line ; some have these parts 

 large, but they are often projecting ; above all, the mammillary veins 

 are large and flexible, and no French race presents more marked type 

 of good milkers. 



CARE OF CATTLE IN BRITTANY. 



This race is so neglected in its home that it might be almost said to 

 provide for itself. The bulls are few and young and the cows are 

 brought to the nearest. 



These cows have no especial care ; during the winter they have some 

 hay or straw given them in the morning, before they are sent out upon 

 znaaeer pastures to obtain the complement of their rations; while ex- 

 posed to coid for isauy hours, they receive scarcely enough sustenance 

 to preserve life. It is from this eanse that the breed is in such a lean 

 condition, while it is proof positive that its native qualities must be 

 very substantial to bear up under such treatment. 



The ox of this breed passes through many hands usually before he 

 reaches the butcher. His first owner usually keeps him until he is about 

 two and a half years old, then sells him to another, who works him for 

 about the same length of time. At the age of five to six years this lean 

 animal is .sold to another, who endeavors for about two months to put 

 him in flesh, and then he passes into the hands of a fourth, and not un- 

 frequently to a fifth, before he is ready for his last trip, which is to the 

 fair. It would be difficult to push division of labor farther. 



In their home it is rare to find these cattle in good condition, but this 

 is a necessary consequence of scanty food ; but careful observation shows 

 that the bony system is slightly developed, and that they can be readily 

 and profitably fattened. The weight of the cow of this breed is from 

 330 to 440 pounds, and an ox from 550 to 770 pounds. 



THE BRITTANY COW AS A MILKER. 



The average quantity of milk is from 1,460 liters to 1,825 liters (1,542 

 to 1,928 quarts) ; that is to say, an average of from 4 to 5 liters (4^ to 

 5| quarts) per day. Considering the size of the animal, its usual scanty 

 fare, it must be considered as a good return. The farmers of Morbihan, 

 when asked whether their cows are good, reply, " This one gives 4 

 pounds, that one G pounds, and the other 7 pounds." They mean that 

 such a cow gives such an amount of butter per week. 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE BRITTANY BREED. 



The attempt has been made to improve this breed by crossing with 

 the Durham and Ayrshire ; the result in the former case was good, in- 

 creasing the weight and precocity of the animal, but without an equally 

 na PPy result in regard to milking qualities 5 while the product in the 

 latter case resulted only in producing a less quiet race, of a little larger 

 size and not as good for milk. 



The only remedy seems to be in selection, and the amelioration 

 of this breed seems closely connected with the agricultural amelioration 



