CHAPTER VII 

 CATTLE 



Cattle are cloven-hoofed, four-legged animals of the species 

 of ruminants. They are of the bovine family. Ruminants 

 eat a large proportion of coarse feeds such as grass, hay, corn 

 fodder. These, being difficult to digest, are chewed and 

 moistened enough to be swallowed and then are stored in the 

 paunch, a large compartment of the stomach made for the 

 purpose. Here the feeds, being mixed with saliva from the 

 mouth, are softened and partly acted upon by the digestive 

 enzymes. After the cow has swallowed enough she rests from 

 exterual labors, and, bringing the swallowed feed from the 

 paunch back to the mouth little by little she chews or masti- 

 cates it thoroughly, and then reswallows it. This time it 

 goes to the true stomach where digestion is completed. 



Because of all this, these animals are able to eat and make 

 good use of feeds that man and even other animals could not 

 use. High-priced animal foods for man may be produced, 

 therefore, on comparatively cheap feeds. 



Great care should be exercised as to proper breeding. 

 That is, the cattle should be descended from the right kind of 

 ancestors, and they should be developed imder an environ- 

 ment and fed upon feeds so as to produce health, vigor and 

 vitality. The type of animals, desired should also be well 

 kept in mind. 



The environment should at all times allow plenty of exer- 

 cise and the feed should contain enough protein, mineral matter 

 and water for normal development. A stunted animal or 

 one that has suffered for the want of food should be considered 

 much as a worn-out automobile. 



Length of Body. — The cow should always be long in the 

 body; long both in the middle and in the hind quarters. The 

 reason for this is that all the high-priced meat is along the upper 



134 



