This book is included in the Self Reliance Ranching section.
PREFACE.
THE object of this work is not only to give a historical
account of the Bovine race, to suggest to our farmers, and
cattle breeders, the best methods of their production and
management, but to exalt and ennoble its pursuit to the
dignity to which it is entitled, in the various departments
of American agriculture.
I have contemplated a work of this kind for many years
past Indeed, its plan was partly shadowed out near
twenty years ago; but on reflection, I made up my mind
that more personal observation was required than I then
possessed, and also, that further experience in the use
of the better, improved breeds of foreign cattle, among
our farmers and cattle breeders, was desirable, to give that
extended range of information which so important an
interest demanded.
More than forty years ago, it was felt by those largely
engaged in stock growing for beef purposes, that our
"native" cattle were lamentably deficient in their most
desirable, as well as profitable qualities, and instead of
attempting to improve and raise our American native stock to the desired standard of excellence, the better way
was to resort to such European breeds as, by a long course
of intelligent culture, already -possessed the properties
required. It was so with our dairy, or milking stock.
As a race, they were lamentably deficient in the uniformity
of their milking qualities, and the yields they produced.
We needed better ones, and to undertake to build
them up from the miscellaneous herds, composed of all
congregated mixtures, as they are, without any certain
basis to commence upon, was a hazardous, and almost
interminable labor, as well as uncertain mode of procedure.
Hence, numerous importations of the choice breeds
of foreign cattle have been made, involving an outlay of
millions of dollars in the aggregate. The propagation of
these cattle, the success that has attended them, and the
popularity which they have achieved among our intelligent
farmers, and breeders, has confirmed the wisdom of
those enterprising men who embarked their capital and
labor in their introduction.
Further knowledge in relation to these foreign breeds,
of their breeding, and rearing, together with their beneficial
uses in elevating the qualities of our old native stock,
through their adaptability in crossing their blood upon
them, has now, beyond a question, decided the necessity
of a book on "American Cattle." Therefore, such as it
is, this volume goes forth to the public.
I believe it is the first work of the kind, so general in
its scope of observation, which has been written, collated,
or published in our country. We have been favored
with sundry publications, relating to cattle in the way
of Dairy Cows, and some of the departments connected
with their use able, useful, instructive publications, too
but not comprising so full and general a range of the subject
as is here proposed. This work is not intended to
interfere with them; each may be essential necessary,
indeed to convey all the information which may be
required on so extensive and ramified a subject
A book which should embrace all that is here undertaken,
together with the productive results appertaining to
neat cattle, as the Dairy, and other economical industries,
could not well be consolidated into a single, acceptable
volume. It would involve a more intimate, and wider
range of experience and observation, than can well be
combined in one individual effort So far as suggestion,
or instruction, is concerned, I have chosen only to take the
creature from its conception, and carry it through life to
its proper and ultimate destination the ox to the yoke,
the bullock to the shambles, the cow to the pail, or the
propagation of her young and there leave them. The
DAIRY, and its management, are referred to other, and
more competent hands.
This Preface ought not to be concluded without saying
that I have gleaned somewhat, much indeed, from the observations, writings, and publications of others, both
abroad and at home, perhaps more experienced than
myself. To such, I feel largely indebted, and give my
acknowledgments. But those observations have been scattered
in such fragmentary and miscellaneous ways, as to
be beyond the reach of the inquirer, without more labor
and expense to combine them into accessible form than
can well be done by the mass, or even a few of those
seeking them.
I trust that here may be found embodied all those various
materiel which will prove acceptable to the wide spread
community interested in the breeding and improvement of
our herds, and that they may be benefited by my labors.
With this trust, the following pages are submitted.
LEWIS F. ALLEN.
BUFFALO, N. Y., 1868.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
Number of Cattle in the United States and Territories; Value of
the same; Value of Beef, Butter, Cheese, and Labor of Oxen
CHAPTER I.
The Climate and Soils of North America, as adapted to the
production of Neat Cattle
CHAPTER II.
Neat Cattle; Their History; Misrepresentations by Artists; Spoken
of in the Bible; ln India; In Egypt; Among the Romans; In Europe
CHAPTER III.
History of American Cattle; Introduction by the Spanish into
Mexico; By the English into Virginia; By the Dutch into New York; By the
English into other Colonies
CHAPTER IV.
Quality, Condition and Appearance of our Native Cattle;
Amalgamation of Different Breeds; Result of the different mixtures
CHAPTER V.
The Anatomical and Economical Points of Cattle; Illustration of
Points; Good Points; Bad Points; Texan Cattle; Comparison of Good and
Poor Cattle
CHAPTER VI.
Improved Breeds of Cattle; What are they? Cattle of Great
Britain; Their Progress there; Their Division into Breeds; Improvement
in them; Youatt's History of them
CHAPTER VII.
Middle-horned Cattle; The Devons; History; Description; Points;
Bull; Cow as a Milker; Ox, as a Worker; As a Beef Animal; Their
Introduction to, and Progress in America
CHAPTER VIII.
The Herefords; History; Description; Bull; Cow, as a Milker; Ox,
as a Worker; As a Beef Animal; Their Introduction to, and Progress in
America
CHAPTER IX.
The Long-horns; History; Description; Bull; Cow, as a Milker; Ox,
as a Worker; As a Beef Animal; Their Introduction into America; Their
Extinction here
CHAPTER X.
The Cattle of Scotland; The West Highlands; Their History, and
Present Condition; Value as Beef Animals; Little Value for the Dairy;
Their Fitness for the Mountain Ranges and Western Plains of America
CHAPTER XI.
The Galloways; Their History; Description; Manner of Breeding
them; Introduction to America Value as Grazing, and Beef Animals
CHAPTER XII.
The Ayrshires; Their Origin and History; Description; Improvement
in their Breeding, and Quality for the Dairy Milk Production In America;
As a Beef Animal
CHAPTER XIII.
The Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey, or Channel Island Cattle; Their
Origin and History; Description; Introduction to America; Value as
Milkers; As a Worker, and Beef Animal
CHAPTER XIV.
The Short-horns; Their Pretended History by Berry, in Youatt;
Their True History; Charles and Robert Colling; Short-horns in
America; Characteristics; Description of them As a Dairy Cow; As a
Working Ox; As a Beef Animal;
Their Proper Homes; Their Predominance in the Herds of Britain
CHAPTER XV.
The Holstein, or Dutch Cattle; Their History; Description of
them; Introduction to America; Mr. Chenery's Importations; Their uses;
For the Dairy; As a Worker; As a Beef Animal
CHAPTER XVI.
The Spanish, or Texan Cattle; Origin and History; Introduction
into Mexico; Migration to Texas and California; Description; Beef
Qualities; Diseases; attending them
CHAPTER XVII.
What is the Best Breed of Cattle? What they are; Wanted for; Each
may be the Best Breed for Certain Localities
CHAPTER XVIII.
What Constitutes a Good Animal? Coarse Cattle; Fine Cattle;
Beauty; Perfection
CHAPTER XIX.
On Breeding; General Principles; Rules for Good Breeding;
In-and-in Breeding; Examples; Establishing the Variety as an Improved
Breed; Contending Opinions
CHAPTER XX.
Treatment of Breeding Cows; Strange Influences; Mistaken
Theories; Doctor Harvey's Essay; Occasional Barrenness; Professor
Tanner's Essay; Mr. E. W. Stewart's Remarks; Feeding in Advanced Stages
of Pregnancy; Duration of Pregnancy
CHAPTER XXI.
Breeding; Grade; Cattle for Grazing; Breeding Dairy Cows; Do not
Change the Breed; Age at which Heifers should be Bred; Rearing and
Treatment of Bulls
CHAPTER XXII.
Rearing Stock; Calves; Their Treatment; Calves for Veal; Calves
Running with the Cows; Handling Young Animals; Shelter; Rearing
Thoroughbred Heifers; Influencing the Sex of Calves
CHAPTER XXIII.
Beef Cattle; Differences in Breed; Regularity of Condition;
Proper Ages for Fattening; Modes of Feeding; Shape of Fat Cattle; Cattle
in the London Markets, by Mr. A. B. Allen; Transportation of Stock to
Market; Railway Cattle Yards
CHAPTER XXIV.
Working Oxen; Rearing, Matching, and Training Devons and
Herefords; the Best Breeds for Labor.
CHAPTER XXV.
Cattle Food; The Grasses; Full Feed and Water; Shade in Pastures;
Change of Pastures; Winter Forage, and Care of Neat Stock; What Winter
Feeding and Cure of Stock Should be; Barns and Sheds
CHAPTER XXVI.
Summer Food for Dairy Cows; Pastures; Soiling; Proper Soiling
Crops; The Best Kind of Corn for Soiling; Mr. E. W. Stewart's
Experiments; Condition of Animals Soiled; Effect of Soiling upon the
Product of Milk; Saving in Fences;
Saving in Manure; Saving in Land; Method of Feeding; Arrangement of
Animals; Another Experiment; Fall Feeding; Winter Feeding
CHAPTER XXVII.
Sale Milk; Dairies; Value of Milk; Sold in the City of New York
In the United States; Swill Milk; Good Milk; Cooking Food; Why Fodder
Should be Cut; Mixing Food; Straw Cutters; Values of Different Food;
Steam Apparatus; Results
of Cooking Experiments, &c
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Milk Cows; Their Selection; Mr. Magne's Essay on their General
Character; Marks; Shape; Appearance; Hygienic Conditions; Selections for
Breeding; Mr. Haxton's Modes of Selection; Guenou's Theory, &c
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Common Mode of Obtaining Dairy Cows; Milking, &c
CHAPTER XXX.
Value Invested In Cows; Low Average in Production; Dairy Soils;
Dairy Factories; Dairy Women; Love of Fine Cattle
CHAPTER XXXI.
Miscellaneous; Pregnancy, and What Follows; As Maternity
Approaches; Marks Indicating Ages of Cattle; Diseases, Treatment, and
Cures; Habits and Tricks of Cattle; Kicking Cows; Kicking Oxen; Breachy
Animals; Cows Sucking
Themselves; Hooking and Quarreling
CHAPTER XXXII.
Diseases Proper; Water Treatment; Garget; Puerperal, or Milk
Fever; Wounds, Bruises, Sprains, &c.; Lowson's Treatise on Diseases and
Cures
CHAPTER XXXIII
Castration; Spaying Heifers and Cows; Free-Martins; Drinking Water;
Bloody, and Curdly Milk; Handling Proof; Large or Overgrown Cattle
End of Preview.
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