THE CULTIVATOR. 
115 
families, of villages, or of small towns, yet that large cattle are fit¬ 
ter for the markets of great towns, and in particular of the metro¬ 
polis ; that were the flesh of the small sized ox better when fresh, 
yet the meat of the large sized is unquestionably more calculated 
for salting, a most essential object in a marine and commercial 
country, for the thicker the beef the better it will retain its juices 
when salted, and the fitter it is for long voyages ; that the hide of 
the large ox is of very great consequence in various manufactures ; 
that large stock are in general distinguished by a greater quietness 
of disposition; that where the pastures are good, cattle and sheep 
will increase in size, without any particular attention on the part of 
the breeder ; large animals are therefore naturally the proper stock 
for such pastures; that the art of fattening cattle, and even sheep, 
with oil-cake, being much improved and extended, the advantage of 
that practice would be of less consequence, unless large oxen were 
bred, as small oxen can be fattened with grass and turnips, as well 
as oil-cake ; and, lastly, that large oxen are better calculated for 
working than small ones, two large oxen being equal to four small 
ones in the plough or the cart. 
Such are the arguments generally made use of on both sides of the 
question; from which it appears that much must depend upon pas¬ 
tures, taste, mode of consumption, markets, &c. and that both sides 
have their advantages. The intelligent breeder, however, (unless 
his pastures are of a nature peculiarly forcing,) will naturally pre¬ 
fer a moderate size in the stock he rears. Davis, of Longleat, one 
of the ablest agriculturists England has produced, has given some 
useful observations on the subject of size. He laments that the at¬ 
tempts which have been made to improve the breeds of cows, horses, 
and sheep, have proceeded too much upon the principle of enlarg¬ 
ing the size of the animal; whereas, in general, the only real im¬ 
provement has been made in the pig, and that was by reducing its 
size, and introducing a kind that will live hardier, and come to great¬ 
er perfection at an earlier age. 
Though it is extremely desirable to bring the shape of cattle to as 
much perfection as possible, yet profit and utility ought not to be 
sacrificed for mere beauty which may please the eye but will not 
fill the pocket, and which, depending much upon caprice, must be 
often changing. In regard to .form, the most experienced breeders 
seem to concur in the following particulars:—That the form or 
shape should be compact, so that no part of the animal should be 
disproportioned to the other parts, and the whole distinguished by a 
general fullness and rotundity of shape; that the chest should be 
broad, for no animal whose chest is narrow can easily be made fat; 
that the carcase should be deep and straight; that the belly should 
be of a moderate size; for when it is more capacious than common 
in young animals it shews a diseased state, and in older ones it is 
considered a proof that the animal will not return in flesh, in milk, 
or in labor, the value of the extra quantity of fruit which it con¬ 
sumes ; that the legs should be short, for the long-limbed individuals 
of the same family or race are found to be the least hardy, and the 
most difficult to rear or to fatten; and that the head, the bones, and 
other parts of inferior value, should be as small as is consistent with 
strength, and with the other properties which the animal ought to 
possess. In animals bred for the shambles, the form must likewise 
be such as to contain the greatest possible proportion of the finer 
compared to the coarser and less valuable parts of the animal. 
This, by selection, may be attained, and thus the wishes of the con¬ 
sumer be maygratified. As to the broad loins and full hips, which 
areconsidered as a point of excellence in particular breeds, it is evi¬ 
dent that the old narrow and thin make, required improvement; but 
the alteration is now carried to a faulty excess, and often occasions 
great difficulty and danger in calving. 
The form of animals has fortunately attracted the attention of an 
eminent surgeon, Henry Cline, Esq. of London, whose doctrines 
we have already laid down at length, and the substance of 
which is:—That the external form is only an indication of the in¬ 
ternal structure; that the lungs of an animal is the first object to 
be attended to, for on their size and soundness the health and 
strength of an animal principally depend ; that the external indica¬ 
tions of the size of the lungs are the form and size of the chest, 
and its breadth in particular; that the head should be small, as by 
this the birth is facilitated; as its affords other advantages in feed¬ 
ing, &c. and it generally indicates that the animal is of a good 
breed; that the length of the neck should be in proportion to the 
size of the animal, that it may collect its food with ease ; and that 
the muscles and tendons should be large, by which an animal is ena¬ 
bled to travel with greater facility. It was formerly the practice to 
estimate the value of animals by the size of their bones. A large 
bone was considered to be a great merit; and a fine boned animal 
always implied great size. It is now known that this doctrine was 
carried too far. Tire strength of an animal does not depend upon 
the bones, but on the muscles; and when the bones are dispropor- 
tionably large, it indicates, in Cline’s opinion, an imperfection in the 
organs of nutrition. Bakewell strongly insisted on the advantage 
of small bones; and the celebrated John Hunter declared that 
small bones were generally attended with corpulence in all the va¬ 
rious subjects he had an opportunity of examining. A small bone, 
however, being heavier and more substantial, requires as much 
nourishment as a hollow one with a larger circumference. 
Among the qualities for which thorough-bred cattle and sheep are 
distinguished, that of being good growers, and having a good length 
of frame, is not the least essential. The meaning of which is, that 
the animal should not only be of a strong and healthy constitution, 
but speedily should grow to a proper size. As specimens of rapid 
growth, a steer of three years old, when well fed, will weigh from 
80 to 90 or 100 stone, 14 lb. to the stone ; and a two year old Lei¬ 
cester wedder, from 25 to 28 lbs. per quarter, immediately after his 
second fleece is taken from him. Animals having the property of 
growing, are usually straight in their back and belly ; their should¬ 
ers well thrown back, and their belly rather light than otherwise.— 
At the same time, a gauntness and paucity of intestines should be 
guarded against, as a most material defect, indicating a very un¬ 
thrifty animal. Being too light of bone, as it is termed, is al o 
great fault. A good grower, or hardy animal, has always a mid¬ 
dling sized bone. A bull distinguished for getting good growers, is 
inestimable ; but one whose progeny takes an unnatural or gigantic 
size, ought to be avoided. 
Arriving soon at perfection, not only in point of growth or size, 
but in respect of fatness, is a material object for the farmer, as his 
profit must in a great measure depend upon it. Where animals, 
bred for the carcase merely, become fat at an early age, they not 
only return sooner the price of their food, with profit to the feeder, 
but in general also, a greater value for their consumption, than slow 
feeding animals. This desirable property greatly depends on a mild 
and docile disposition; and as this docility of temper is much owing 
to the manner in which the animal is brought up, attention to inure 
them early to be familiar, cannot be too much recommended. A 
tamed breed also has other advantages. It is not so apt to injure 
fences, or to break into adjacent fields; consequently it is less liable 
to accidents, and can be reared, supported, and fattened, at less ex¬ 
pense. The property of early maturity, in a populous country, 
where the consumption of meat is great, is extremely beneficial to 
the public, as it evidently tends to furnish greater supplies to the 
market; and this propensity to fatten at an early age, is a sure 
proof, that an animal will fatten speedily at a later period of his 
life. 
In the wilder and bleaker parts of a country, the possession of a 
hardy and healthy constitution, is a most valuable property in stock. 
Where the surface is barren, and the climate rigorous, it is essen¬ 
tial that the stock bred and maintained there, should be able to en¬ 
dure the severities and vicissitudes of the weather, as well as scar¬ 
city of food, hard work, or any other circumstance in its treatment, 
that might subject a more delicate breed to injury. In this respect, 
different kinds of stock greatly vary; and it is a matter of much 
consequence, to select, for different situations, cattle with constitu¬ 
tions suitable to the place where they are to be kept. It is a popu¬ 
lar belief, that dark colors are indications of hardiness. In moun¬ 
tain breeds of cattle, a rough pile is reckoned a desirable property, 
more especially when they are to be kept out all winter. It enables 
them to face the storm, instead of shrinking from it. Hardy breeds 
are exempted from various diseases, such as having yellow fat, also 
being black fleshed, defects so injurious to stock. 
The prolific quality of a breed is a matter deserving attention.— 
The females of some breeds both bear more frequently than usual, 
and also have frequently more than one at a birth. This property 
runs more strikingly in sub-varieties, or individual families ; and 
though partly owing to something in the habits of animals, and 
partly to their previous good or bad treatment, yet in some degree 
seems to depend upon the seasons, some years being more distin¬ 
guished for twins than others. In breeding, not only the numbers, 
but the sex of the offspring, in some cases, seem to depend upon 
the female parent. Two cows produced fourteen females each in 
