GROWiNG AND FITTING CATTLIi l'(JK IIX liiinTlON 32I 



influence on the hair, as it tends to make it more soft, 

 pliable and hixuriant in its growtli. 



In some instances advantage is taken of the elements 

 to do a part of the washing. The cattle are allowed to 

 remain out occasionally while a warm rain is falling, and 

 which, in due time, is followed by careful grooming. 

 The soft character of the water adds to its suitability, 

 but the alkaline element is lacking which is so helpful 

 in loosening the hold that all foreign matters may have 

 on the skin, as in hand-washing, hence, thus far, it is less 

 potent than hand-washing. But when the shower is 

 copious and prolonged, the benefits are pronounced. 



Except in the case of beef cattle, more than one 

 washing is seldom given, and not till within a few days 

 of the fair; but, in many instances, they are not washed 

 at all. With all animals, however, that are much 

 groomed, some washing will prove labor-saving. In 

 some instances, washing is accomplished through the 

 medium of the hose. This method, though speedy, is 

 not so efficacious as hand-washing, but the hose may be 

 profitably used in removing the alkaline substances from 

 the hair which have been applied by the brush used in 

 hand-washing. It is common to hand-wash fat cattle 

 from two to four times during the season preceding the 

 fairs, especially when they come late, as in early Decem- 

 ber. These washings will be given, say, one in Sep- 

 tember, one or two in October, and one in November, 

 from four to seven days before the opening of the fair. 

 Some exhibitors practice washing as soon as the fair is 

 reached. This may be necessary when the animals have 

 been long on the way, as when delayed in transit, and 

 not sufficiently supplied with litter, or when exposed, 

 going from fair to fair, to the dust, which is inseparable 

 from such transit. But the aim should be to avoid it 

 as much as possible, as there is not sufficient time for 

 the accumulation of the oil removed by washing to 

 allow the hair to recover its usual pliant condition before 



