Early Fattening and Breeding. 143 



of the Jerseys and Guernseys is formed in much less time 

 than, at the same rate of nutrition, would be required if 

 their muscular structure were much larger in extent, as is 

 shown in the much more muscular, and later maturing De- 

 von cattle. 



The tendency to breed and fatten at an early age was, 

 however, most noticed and encouraged in families or herds 

 of the more widely known Short-horns. Many cattle of 

 this breed have long been slender in their muscular struct- 

 ure, as the result of reduced activity, from over-liberal 

 feeding. Thus many Short-horns breed early from their 

 slender muscular growth being early completed, because 

 it is slender ; much proteid material, that would be re- 

 quired in forming large muscular systems, going to form 

 fat, in these large, but slender-muscled cattle. Hence, 

 at the same rate of nutrition, the slender muscular struct- 

 ure of many Short-horns is formed at an early age, and in 

 much less time, than is required in forming larger muscu- 

 lar proportion, as in muscular breeds like the Galloways 

 and Devons. So the slender muscles of many Short-horns 

 are early formed, according to their reduced extent; this 

 being an influential cause of the early breeding as well as 

 early fattening of many Short-horn cattle. 



According to the highest authority,* rapid cell-changes 

 and growth are imperfect, and liable to early decay, while 

 the best quality and most enduring structure in animal 

 growth, is only slowly formed. The less time there is for 

 eliminating action in the cells, the more crude and imma- 

 ture the structures formed by imperfect assimilation must 

 be. 



The insipid flavor, loose structure, and innutritive qual- 

 ity of veal are well known. A deficiency of oxygen is in- 

 dicated by the pale color of the veal, tied-up calves breath- 

 ing but little air, no time being allowed for maturing, as 



*Dr. L. S. Beale, Physi. Anat., Part II. 



