94 Oattle Problems. 



to cold appearing in them. On the contrary, in the great- 

 er exposure in that vast wind-swept country, the cattle 

 generally are conspicuous for thickness and substance in 

 their skin-growth ; the largest and most thrifty, being best 

 provided with thick inclosing integuments, as we have seen 

 repeatedly, clearly showing that a thick skin is the natural 

 means of protection* against tenderness ; and is naturally 

 developed by activity in exposed conditions of wind and 

 cold. 



Thin skins and correspondingly reduced extent of mus- 

 cular parts result from confinement or inactivity. Inac- 

 tivity, by reducing heat supply leads to fatal results in some 

 cases, in extreme cold; on the other hand increased activ- 

 ity always increases the rate of tissue-renewal in the skin 

 and other parts, and liberates heat in proportion to the 

 activity of the assimilating and excretory processes ; and 

 fine thick coats of hair are developed in cattle in exposed 

 situations by activity from the rapid increase of blood, and 

 nutrition in the tissues that result from activity with ex- 

 posure. 



It is known that blood is completed in the lungs, before 

 being supplied in the necessary tissues of the body, beyond 

 a mere minimum amount, rapidly, or slowly, according to 

 exercise or inaction, in local parts, and in the body gener- 

 ally ; both facts having been proved true by much experi- 

 ence, and the wide demonstration of the influence of ex- 

 ercise in cattle and horses the country over, and in multi- 

 tudes of active western cattle, in developing growth in skin 

 and coats, as well as in general size, clearly indicates inac- 



=*■ If itBhouldbf said that tenderness, costly shelf ei-, and reduced food valne 

 from inactivity, arc ]nefcrable to activity and abiiiulant skin protection, the 

 reply is that the eatllc siilijeeled 1o inactivity and lii,i;l!ly artillcial protection, 

 cannot comi»elc with the cattle that are naturally well i>r()tecle(l with thick 

 skins atid coats of hair ; the latter always producing ilw. Ijest quality of nu'at, 

 as in Scotland, and on the threat western grazing ranges, at much less cost to 

 the breeder and feeder. \Vc therefore advocate the maintenance ofvl^or 

 and food value from activity and full niuBCularity, ae the true basis of intrin- 

 sic value in cattle at all times. 



