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cause it thus might happen that the oxen or wethers produced 
from such a sire would be coarse also, which in them would be a 
fault. Another point to be attended to, not merely as an indica- 
tion of a good constitution but as a merit in itself, is that an animal 
should exhibit great muscular power, or rather that his muscles 
should be large. This is an usual accompaniment of strength of 
constitution, but it also shews that there will be a good proportion- 
ate mixture of lean and fat in the meat produced from the animal, 
the muscles being that part which in meat is lean. A thick neck 
is in both bulls and rams a proof of the muscles being large, and there 
can hardly be a greater fault in the shape of a male animal, of 
either sort, than his having a thin neck. I am inclined to say, that 
in the new Leicester breed of sheep, which is the breed to which I 
am accustomed, a ram’s neck cannot be too thick. Other indica- 
tions of muscle are more difficult to observe in sheep than in cattle. 
In a bull there ought to be a full muscle on each side of the back- 
bone, just behind the top of the shoulder-blades; he ought also to 
have the muscles on the outside of the thigh full, and extending 
down nearly to the hough. It will seldom happen that a bull 
having these indications will be found deficient in muscle. With 
respect to rams, my own observation does not enable me to point 
out any other indications of muscle except the thickness of the neck, 
which I have mentioned above: if other farmers are able to point 
out any, I would only say there is scarcely any thing to which they 
ought to pay greater attention. 
As I am writing for the use of farmers, it is quite unnecessary 
for me to attempt to give a description of what is considered a well- 
shaped bull or ram ; it is also obviously impossible to express in 
words what is meant by good handling. It is sufficient to say, 
therefore, that no male animal is fit to be used at all as a sire 
whose handling is not good, and that the more perfect his shape is 
the better. The above observations apply to breeding generally ; 
for, whatever may be the sort or size of the animal intended to be 
produced, there is no doubt but that good health, propensity to 
fatten, and good shape, in all cases, ought to be aimed at. But 
there are not only different breeds, both of cattle and sheep, but 
experienced and ver} r good farmers differ very much in opinion as 
to which peculiarities of shape and size are to be preferred, even 
among animals of the same breed. It is therefore very desirable, 
before any man commences to breed either cattle or sheep, that he 
should make up his mind as to the shape and qualities he wishes 
to obtain, and steadily pursue this object : if he does so, there is 
very little doubt but that he will succeed in having a herd of cattle 
or a flock of sheep possessing the characteristics which he at first 
intended they should possess; but if, on the other hand, lie breeds 
