28 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



but how long the breeder may keep him after that age must 

 depend upon his own judgment, and a variety of circum- 

 stances. 



The cow seldom produces more than a single calf, some- 

 times, however, twins, and very rarely three. In the case of 

 twins, if they be respectively male and female, the female is 

 generally, but not always, unproductive. Females, thus con- 

 ditioned, are termed free-martins ; they are evidently the 

 taurcB of Columella. (Libr. vi.) Varro also uses the word 

 taura, as applied to a cow of this description. Bewick states, 

 that the free-martin resembles the bullock more than the cow 

 in form : an observation also made by Hunter, who adds, that 

 its flesh is generally considered finer in fibre than that either 

 of the bull or cow, and to surpass that of the ox or heifer, in 

 delicacy of flavour ; but there are not wanting exceptions 

 where the flesh has turned out nearly as bad as bull-beef, and 

 certainly worse than that of a cow. For an account of the 

 anatomical peculiarities of the free-martin, by John Hunter, 

 see Philosophical Transactions, vol. Ixix. p. 289 ; and also 

 Professor Owen's edition of Hunter's Observations, 1837. 



Every twin female, however, is not necessarily barren, even 

 when the other calf is a male. This has been satisfactorily 

 proved: it was, indeed, known to Hunter; and, in the Ob- 

 servations above alluded to, Professor Owen adds a confir- 

 matory note, from London s Magazine of Natural History, 

 stating that a cow in the possession of J. Holroyd, Esq., of 

 Withers, near Leeds, produced twins, a bull calf, and a cow 

 calf. As popular opinion was strong on the necessary barren- 

 ness of the female, Mr. Holroyd determined to put it to the 

 test, and reared both calves up to maturity. In due time this 

 heifer brought forth a bull calf, and had, regularly, calves for 

 six or seven years afterwards. In the Farmer's Magazine, 

 for November 1806, there is an account of a twin heifer, 

 belonging to Mr. Buchan, of Killingtringham. which pro- 

 duced a calf: she was very handsome, with a well-formed 

 udder, and was a good milker. In the same Magazine, 

 November 1807, another instance of a similar nature is 

 recorded, and others might be adduced. When the twins are 

 both bull calves, or both cow calves, they are generally equally 

 productive. 



There is an instance on record in the British Farmer's 

 Magazine, May 1828, of a cow which produced three calves 

 at a birth, precisely resembling each other. 



