oO Cattle Problems. 



skin be tiglit, and not easily movable, or difficult to lift 

 over the buttocks or hip-bones, the handling is not good, 

 but indicates a hard skin, with a weak circulation and 

 unthrifty habit. Such jcattle have frequently rough and 

 coarse hair also, and weak digestive power, with languid 

 motion. 



This is the reason and explanation why the best judges 

 ahva\s ascertain, by handling, whether the skin be mellow 

 over the hip bones and buttock bones; for if mellow and 

 movable under the heav\- strain on these bones, and over 

 the most projecting parts of the ribs, the skin is sure to be 

 ;.'icvc mellow and elastic o^er all the flesh}" parts, where 

 there is much less strain, which satisfies the party who 

 examines that the animal is thrifty and may be depended 

 upon, either for breeding or feeding, or fine quality of 

 meat. But if the skin be hard and tight over the hip and 

 buttock bones, the animal will not prove to be either 

 thrifty or a profitable feeder. This is the opinion of ex- 

 perienced feeders and dealers. The hanciling qualities in 

 cattle are alwa3s tested before purchasing by men of ex- 

 perience ; as if cattle handle well on the ribs, hips, and 

 buttocks, good handling qualities, or those of any degree 

 betu'een wry good and the contrar)- extreme, will corre- 

 spond in all other accessible parts, rendering further search 

 as to quality unnecessary. It may be added, however, 

 that the quality of feed, as between fine and soft grasses 

 and hay, and coarse and wood)- provender and hay, has a 

 modifying influence on the quality of meat and milk. 



The animal's structure being formed from its food, must, 

 to a certain extent, correspond with the quality of the 

 food supplied. Harsh, rough feed, A\-ith too much expo- 

 sure, will cause hard skins and rough coats. ^Vhile roots 

 supply water and make juicy mutton or beef in winter, as 

 juicy grass does in summer. Oily feed softens the hair, 

 gi\ing it lustre; and the advantage of supphing water in 



