GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE. Diseases. Cattle are subject to various diseases, the result of improper treatment, or of causes connected with climate which it is difficult to avert. By attention to feeding, housing, and cleaning, as already noticed, much may be done to prevent some of the more fatal distempers. Cattle that have passed their lives, both day and night, in the open air, are generally so hardy that they are not injured by a wetting of the skin, and are liable to few of the complaints of dairy or stall-fed animals. Cows, being compelled to lead an artificial mode of life, are the most delicate in every respect, and require the most careful treatment. They should not be left out all night, and when they return from the field wet, it is always a safe and humane plan to dry them with a wisp of straw. The diseases to which they are most liable are of an inflammatory kind, and for these the veterinary surgeon prescribes bleeding, and perhaps some medicines to be taken internally. Leaving cowkeepers to seek the advice of these professional men, or at least of persons possessing practical skill, we need here only allude to three chief disorders for the sake of general information. The first we shall mention is The Hove. The hove, or blown, in cattle is a swelling in the paunch, caused generally by eating wet grass or clover in warm weather. The substance ferments, and the membrane becomes distended by the creation of air or gas, which cannot find the means of escape; and if not taken off artificially, the animal will be suffocated. Mr Loudon, in his "Encyclopædia of Agriculture," mentions the following methods of relief from this fatal distension: "There are three modes of relieving the complaint, which may be adverted to according to the degree of distension and length of time it has existed. These are internal medicines; the introduction of a probang of some kind into the paunch by the throat; and the puncturing it by the sides. Dr Whyatt, of Edinburgh, is said to have cured eighteen out of twenty hoved cows, by giving a pint of gin to each. Oil, by condensing the air, has been successfully tried. Any other substance, also, that has a strong power of absorbing air may be advantageously given. Common salt and water, made strongly saline, is a usual country remedy. New milk, with a proportion of tar equal to one-sixth of the milk, is highly spoken of. A strong solution of prepared ammonia in water often brings off a great quantity of air, and relieves the animal. Any of these internal remedies may be made use of when the disease has recently taken place, and is not in a violent degree; but when otherwise, the introduction of an instrument is proper, and is now very generally resorted to. The one principally in use is a species of probang, invented by Dr Munro, of Edinburgh. Another, consisting of a cane of six feet in length, and of considerable diameter, having a bulbous knob of wood, has been invented by Eager, which is a more simple machine, but hardly so efficacious. It is probable that, in cases of emergency, even the larger end of a common cart-whip, dexterously used, might answer the end. But by far the best instrument for relieving hoven cattle, as well as for clystering them, is Read's enema apparatus, which is alike applicable to horses, cattle, and dogs. It consists of a syringe, to which tubes of different kinds are applied, according to the purpose and the kind of animal to be operated upon. There is a long flexible tube for giving an enema to horses and cattle, and a smaller one for dogs. To relieve hoven bullocks effectually, it is necessary not only to free the stomach from an accumulation of gas, but from the fermenting pultaceous mixture which generates it; for this purpose a tube is applied to the extremity of the syringe, and then passed into the animal's stomach through the mouth, and being put in action, the offending matter is discharged by a side opening. When the same operation is performed on sheep, a smaller tube is made use of. The charac teristic excellency of Read's instrument is, that there is no limit to the quantity of fluid that may be injected or extracted. The same syringe is used for extracting poison from the stomach of man, for smoking insects, extinguishing fires, and syringing fruit trees. The introduction of any of these instruments may be effected by the help of an assistant, who should hold the hors of the animal by one hand, and the dividing cartilage of the nose with the other; while the operator hirase f taking the tongue in his left hand, employs his right in skilfully and carefully introducing the instrument; the assistant bringing the head and neck into such an attitude as to make the passage nearly straight, which will greatly facilitate the operation. But when no iastruments can be procured, or as cases may occur when, indeed, it is not advisable to try them, as when the da ease has existed a considerable time, or the animal tas become outrageous, or the stomach so much distended with air that there is danger of immediate suffocation or bursting, in these instances the puncture of Le maw must be instantly performed, which is cael paunching. This may be done with the greatest case, midway between the ilium or haunch-bone, and the last rib of the left side, to which the paunch inclines: a sharp penknife is frequently used; and persons in veterinary practice should always keep a long trocar which will be found much the most efficacious, and by far the most safe, as it permits the air escaping cer tainly and quickly, at the same time that it prevents its entrance into the cavity of the abdomen, whea would occasion an equal distension. As soon as the a is perfectly evacuated, and the paunch resumes office, the trocar may be removed; and in whatever way it is done, the wound should be carefully cust with sticking-plaster or other adhesive matter. It is necessary to observe, that this operation is so safe, that whenever a medical assistant cannot be obtaine no person should hesitate a moment about doing it h self. After relief has been afforded by means of either the probang or the paunching, a stimulant drink may be very properly given: half a pint of common or one ounce of spirit of hartshorn in a pint of a or two ounces of spirit of turpentine in ale, may any them be used as an assistant stimulus. When, also, the cud is again chewed, still some relaxation of the dige tive organs may remain ; at first, therefore, feed spar ingly, and give, for a few mornings, a tonic." The apparatus mentioned above, with directions r use, may now be had from the principal makers of or dealers in agricultural implements. The cane te to employ in emergencies, no cow keeper should without. Epidemic Murrain. The malignant epidemic, generally called murrain,'s a species of catarrh, affecting the respiratory orga and is most frequent in damp climates or ill-dra parts of the country. The writer of the work on cal, already quoted from (Lib. Use. Know.), thus speass its nature and remedies:-" There are few disc that assume, in its earlier or later stages, a gr variety of form; but, disarmed somewhat of its vir lence in modern times, or at least not having appear in all its terrors for some years past, it will genera be distinguished by some or the greater part of the lowing symptoms : There will be cough, frequent and painful, and a many cases for a week or more before there is other marked symptom. The farmer may not al** be aware of this, but he will find it out if he in about it; and he will be fully aware of the importa of the fact before we have done with this division of subject. After a few days, some heaving of the flanks will added to the cough; the pulse will be small, hard, fr quent, and sometimes irregular; the mouth hot; root of the horn cold; the faces sometimes hard black, at others liquid and black, and then very fa Many of them are brought to Dumbartonshire and other places at the age of two years and two years and a-half, wintered on coarse pastures, with a small allowance of bog-hay or straw, and moved to lower grounds next summer. They are then driven farther south, where they get turnips in straw-yards through the following winter, and in April are in high condition for early grass, upon which they make themselves fat in the month of June. The larger varieties of the north-eastern counties do not leave the breeder at so early an age. They are seldom brought to market till they are three or three years and a-half old, and then frequently in good condition for being fattened either on grass or turnips. A great many of the Aberdeenshire cattle are bought for the straw-yards of the southern counties, get a few turnips through winter and spring, and are either driven to England in April, or fattened at home in the course of the ensuing summer. The Fife cattle, like the other breeds of the Lowlands, are generally sold to the graziers at three years old, having got a liberal allowance of turnips during the preceding winter." * Rules for Selecting Cattle. year old would carry the mark of a four-year old. Is the bull they are either not seen until five, or they ca not be traced at all;' nor in the ox do they 'appe until he is five years old, and they are often confused besides, there is also an instrument called a ra which has been said to make many an arm ache a lit before a large fair. Without any delusive intentar however, an ugly set in the horns of young cattle often remedied by filing a little off the sides of the ti opposite to the direction which it is desired that horns should take. Some men have an antipathy to horns altogether, and would even carry their dislike so far as to extirpat them from the brows of all their cattle; they can dulge their taste by paring off the tops of the horr when they first break through the skin. Perhaps not generally known, that the larger the horn t thinner the skull. The age is indicated with unerring certainty by ' teeth, to those who have judgment and experie until the animal reaches the age of six or seven; uz . two years old, no teeth are cast, at that age two new teeth are cut; at three, two more are cut; and in ta two succeeding years two in each year; at five th mouth is said to be full, though not completely so t six, because until that period the two corner teeth ( last in renewal) are not perfectly up. The front or is cisor teeth are those considered, for a full grown bea has altogether thirty-two teeth." Method of ascertaining the Weight of Cattle while Living. In selecting cattle for feeding, their qualities may be in some measure known by examining the hide, horns, &c. "It is well known that the grazier and the butcher judge of the aptitude that any animal has to fatten from the touch of the skin. When the hide feels soft and silky, it strongly indicates a tendency in the animal to take on meat; and it is evident that a fine and soft skin must be more pliable, and more easily "This is of the utmost utility for all those stretched out to receive any extraordinary quantity of are not experienced judges by the eye, and by the i flesh, than a thick or tough one. At the same time, lowing directions, the weight can be ascertained w thick hides are of great importance in various manu- a mere trifle:-Take a string, put it round the te factures. Indeed, they are necessary in cold countries, standing square, just behind the shoulder-blade; ma where cattle are much exposed to the inclemency of sure on a foot-rule the feet and inches the animal s the seasons; and, in the best breeds of Highland cattle, circumference; this is called the girth; then, with t the skin is thick in proportion to their size, without string, measure from the bone of the tail which plurt being so tough as to be prejudicial to their capacity the line with the hinder part of the buttock; direct t of fattening. It appears, from Columella's description line along the back to the fore part of the shou of the best kind of ox, that the advantage of a soft skin blade; take the dimensions on the foot-rule as be is not a new discovery, but was perfectly well known which is the length, and work the figures in the to the husbandmen of ancient Italy." These are the lowing manner :-Girth of the bullock, 6 feet 4 inch observations of Sir John Sinclair, who adds the fol- length, 5 feet 3 inches; which, multiplied toget lowing as a summary of good points to be attended to make 31 square superficial feet; that again mult in choosing cattle. They should be-1. Of a moderate by 23 (the number of pounds allowed to each st size, unless where the food is of a nature peculiarly ficial foot of cattle measuring less than 7 and more t forcing; 2. Of a shape the most likely to yield profit 5 in girth), makes 713 pounds; and, allowing 14 po to the farmer; 3. Of a docile disposition, without being to the stone, is 50 stone 13 pounds. Where the a deficient in spirit; 4. Hardy, and not liable to disease; mal measures less than 9 and more than 7 feet in gr 5. Easily maintained, and on food not of a costly na- 31 is the number of pounds to each superficial {** ture; 6. Arriving soon at maturity; 7. Producing con- Again, suppose a pig or any small beast should meat siderable quantities of milk; 8. Having flesh of an 2 feet in girth, and 2 feet along the back, which, mL* excellent quality; 9. Having a tendency to take on plied together, make 4 square feet; that multiplie fat; 10. Having a valuable hide; and, lastly, Calcu-11, the number of pounds allowed for each square lated (should it be judged necessary) for working." It is thought best to begin to break-in oxen at three years old, and to give them full work at four. With respect to judging of cattle by their horns and teeth, we offer the following observations from the "Cyclopædia of Practical Husbandry, by Martin Doyle" (Rev. Mr Hickey). "The ordinary guide for ascertaining the precise age of cattle is the horn, which is also indicative of the breed; at three years old (this is laid down as a rule) the horns are perfectly smooth, after this a ring appears near the root, and annually afterwards a new circle, so that, by adding two years to the first ring, the age is calculated; but the contributors to the volume so frequently quoted, have clearly shown that this is a very uncertain mode of judging; that the rings are only distinct in the cow; and that if a heifer goes to the bull when she is two years old, or a little before or after that time, there is an immediate change in the and the first ring appears; so that a real three neral Report of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 84. of cattle measuring less than 3 feet in girth, makes pounds; which, divided by 14, to bring it to stones, stone 2 pounds. Again, suppose a calf, a sheep, &. should measure 4 feet 6 inches in girth, and 3 feet inches in length, which, multiplied together, make square feet; that multiplied by 16, the number pounds allowed to all cattle measuring less than 3 fee and more than 3 in girth, makes 264 pounds; wha divided by 14, to bring it into stones, is 18 stones pounds. The dimensions of the girth and length black cattle, sheep, calves, or hogs, may be as exact taken this way as is at all necessary for any comp tion or valuation of stock, and will answer exactly the four quarters, sinking the offal, and which ever who can get even a bit of chalk, can easily pe form. A deduction must be made for a half-face beast of 1 stone in 20, from that of a fat one; and fa a cow that has had calves, 1 stone must be allowe and another for not being properly fat.” man, * Cattle Keeper's Guide. Printed and published by W. and R. CHAMBERS, Edinburg Sold also by W. S. ORR and Co., London 4 lbs. the fleece; but they are rather small, and in some | the attention of breeders of this species of sheep, t respects ill formed. testifying to the greatest degree of fecundity of which : have yet heard. 5. The Cheviot breed derive their name from the Cheviot mountains, in which they are indigenous. They are longer and heavier than the black-faced. Their wool is fine; a medium fleece weighs about 3 lbs. ; a carcass, when fat, weighs from 12 to 18 lbs. per quarter. Their faces are white; their legs are long, clean, and small boned, and clad with wool to the hough. Their only defect of form is a want of depth in the chest; yet, with this exception, their size, general form, hardy constitution, and fine wool, are a combination of qualities in which, as a breed for mountain pasturage, they are yet unrivalled in this country. 6. The Horned varieties of fine wooled sheep of Norfolk, Wiltshire, and Dorset.-This breed of sheep have short wool, in which they differ from the blackfaced sheep, and moorland sheep of Devonshire, and from the Cheviot, in having large spiral horns. They are not much lighter than the Cheviots, but they are ill formed, and thin, flat in the ribs, and slow feeders; a medium fleece weighs about 2 lbs. It is believed that the South-down will eventually displace them. The Wiltshire sheep are still heavier than those of Norfolk, being the largest of our fine wooled sheep; they are said to thrive well in the downs of Wiltshire, but they are also giving ground to the South-downs. The Dorset sheep have horns, white faces and legs; their threeyear-old wethers weigh from 16 to 20 lbs. per quarter; their wool is less fine, but heavier than that of Wiltshire, weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. the fleece. The peculiar advantage of this breed is, that the ewes admit the ram at so early a period that they generally have lambs in the months of September and October, which find a ready market in large towns for winter consumption. 7. The Ryeland breed derive their name from a southern district in Herefordshire, which at one time was regarded as incapable of growing any thing but rye. This species are white-faced, and without horns; their general form is tolerable; they fall short of the improved breeds, in being more flat in the ribs, and less level in the back; their wool is fine, weighing from 1 to 2 lbs.; their mutton is delicate; they arrive soon at maturity, and fatten easily, and weigh from 12 to 16 lbs. per quarter: this breed has been crossed by the Spanish Merino. The produce of this cross were at one time in high fame in England, under the name of the Anglo-Merino; and though their wool is said to have been of a fine quality, the breed has for long declined in popular favour. 8. The South-down breed. - This species have no horns; their legs and faces grey. They have fine wool, which is from two to three inches in length, and weighs from 2 to 3 lbs. per fleece; they are slightly deficient in depth and breadth of the chest, but their mutton is excellent, and highly flavoured; they are kindly feeders, and when fat, their average weight may be stated at from 15 to 18 lbs. per quarter. This species of sheep have, from time immemorial, been reared upon the chalky soils of Sussex, but are now widely extended, and thrive excellently not only on the chalk downs and light soils of England, but on the sheltered lawns of Scotland. In a note to the author from Lord Pitmilly, near St Andrews, are the following facts:-"I generally keep about a score of Southdown ewes for early lambs; they pasture in the lawn with the black-faced wethers kept for family use. The lambs dropped early in winter 1839-40; not being wanted, were sent to Edinburgh; ten of the ewes lambed again in September 1840, and again in March 1941. Some of them had twin lambs; all did well. tember lambs I sold in August 1841, when ths old, at 30s. a-piece. I ascribe the fact hriving so well to the dry ground, and to ut every night, summer and winter, into well bedded; they have no extra food, bing time, when they get a little oil-cake ip." The above note is highly deserving 9. The Merino breed. This species of sheep is s posed to have been originally from Africa. Mares Columella saw a variety from that country at some f the games exhibited at Rome. He procured some! them for his own farm, crossed them with the breas of Tarentum, and sent the offspring of this cross t Spain. In Spain they soon rose to such perfection d celebrity, that they attracted the attention of breeders of stock in other nations, and this breed may now found in every part of the globe. They were importes into England for the first time in 1788. The Ryelard and other fine-wooled breeds of England were cross by Merino rams in 1792. The Merino breed of ra were cultivated with great care by his late majesty King George III. The sales of his majesty's st which commenced in the year 1804, attracted such ger ral attention in England that a society was formed? promoting the breed in 1811; but the high expectati which were formed of the result of this cross w.. native sheep were far from being realised. The qua of the wool of the native sheep was improved, but increased value of the fleece was an inadequate compe sation for defects in the character of the animals ther selves, which proved less hardy than the parent st va, were slow feeders, and very defective in form. The Merinos that have been naturalised in country retain their natural characters, except that they become larger in the carcass, and the wool long and heavier, than in Spain; but the Merino, as a f ing animal, is too small and ill-formed, and the matt deficient both in quantity and quality. These p have given rise to some controversy; but in the foret language of Professor Low-"It is vain that s breeders still contend for the superiority of the par Merino; the general judgment of farmers is against them, and with perfect reason."* The Merino sheep are cultivated in Spain and Gem many with a greater regard to the wool than to t weight and value of the animal ; but the farmers in Eag land think it more profitable to raise the weight a value of the mutton, and it is believed, by those w qualified to judge, that the best of the Merino she under the more rigorous climate of Great Britain, w never yield mutton equal in quality to that of Spar The wool of this breed is finer than that of any otr sheep. In Spain, the fleece of the ram weighs 8 it and that of the ewe 5 lbs. ; but this wool having s a large quantity of yolk, which absorbs every kint impurity with which it comes in contact, the wool sa three-fifths of its weight by being properly washed. 10. The Devonshire Notts, Romney Marsh, Pa Lincolnshire, Teeswater, and Old Leicester sheeThe Devonshire Notts consist of two varieties. [ one is called the Dun-faced Notts, from the colour the face; this is a coarse animal, with flat ribs a crooked back, but it yields a fleece weighing 101, and when fat, weighs 22 lbs. per quarter when thirty months old. The second variety is called t Bampton Notts; it resembles the former in many re spects, but is easier fed, yields less wool, and has a white face and legs. Both varieties have been crossby the Leicester, by which both breeds have is. much improved. The Romney Marsh breeds are very large anima with white faces and legs, and yield a heavy fleece, t quality good of its kind. Their general structure a defective, the chest being narrow and the extremities coarse. The result of their being crossed by the New Leicester is still a point in dispute-one party allegue, that though the quantity of wool has been lessened, in the size of the animal diminished by the cross, yet tendency to fatten and their general form have bee much improved. On the other hand, some well-infoates. breeders say, that besides the loss of the quantity and *Low's Elements of Agriculture, p. 542. the |