Results of Crosses. 107 



bined, in the first cross or grade. But though the first cross 

 animal inherits sufficient muscle to form a fair proportion 

 of lean, or flesh basis in the beef, the muscle of the first 

 cross grade is, nevertheless, very considerably reduced be- 

 low the proportion in the cow side of the cross ; a fact 

 which deserves close consideration. 



The vital importance of muscle in breeding, is recog- 

 nized by taking the "dips" and "infusions" of the greater 

 vitality of muscular cattle — as well as horses — the muscle, 

 being, also, the basis of the nutritive and valuable qualities 

 in beef, containing as it does in addition to the solid ele- 

 ments, the nutritive juices, as well as the flavoring constit- 

 uents of the meat ; these qualities being most abundant in 

 the meat of active muscular animals like the Kyloes and 

 Devon cattle, and in active breeds of sheep, and in ven- 

 ison. To obtain a clearer and approximately correct view 

 of the practical and powerful influence of the muscular and 

 fat-forming characteristics in crossing, a few figures may 

 be employed, and while the proportions of muscle assumed 

 to exist in different breeds of cattle may not be precisely 

 accurate, the proportions varying even in common cat- 

 tle, and in different families and herds of the same breed, 

 the figures will at least serve to indicate the influence of 

 muscle in connection with crossing, and crosses. 



The proportion of muscle in certain pure breeds, and in 

 common cattle, taking that of common cattle as the 

 standard proportion necessary to supply vigor of constitu- 

 tion, and the nutritive basis of meat, in its solids, juices, 

 and flavor, may be estimated as follows : Muscle in com- 

 mon cattle, ICO ; in Devons, no; in certain Short-horns, 

 70 ; in Alderney cattle, 60 ; in Herefords, 90 ; and in 

 Galloways and Chillingham wild cattle, 100. Nowifve 

 use a Short-horn bull on a common cow, we have 70-)- 100:= 

 170-:- 2^85. Thus the first cross gives us 15 per cent kss 

 muscle in the grade, or half blood, than in the common 



