The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-09-14
AGRICULTURAL.

ON THE BREEDING OF CATTLE AND silEEt.
The following letter Oh the subject Is
copicd fron, ..INe IIark Lime Eaprcss:'
"Many farmers consider as matter OF
indifference that on which the profitable
nature oftheir occupation mainly depends.
The worse breed the female Is, tho more
this will BE- the case when she is put to a
well bred male. Now, Ii is known to gra-
ziers, that the ;ttempt to iattcn all animal
who possesses no feeding proPenslt'cs pro-
duces loss instead Of profit. The iced
ing propensitles descend from the sire. and
therefore it is quite Just to say, that a
breeder OF cattle or sEncp who considers
it a matter of Indifference what sort OF
male animal he uses. does consider 1t
matter of Indifference whether hc gains
profit or incurs loss.
The first thing to be considered in the
selecting of male, arc tho indications
bv which it may be possible to form a
Judgment as to his constitution. In all
animals wide chest indicates strength
of constitution, and there can be no douht
that this is the point of shape to which 1t
is most material to any breeIcr to look,
in the selection of either bull or ram
The animal also should exhibit great
muscular power or rather that his muscles
should be large. This is usual accom-
panimcnt of strength Of constitution, but 1t
likewise shows that there will be good
proportionate mixture of lean and fat IN
the meat produced by the animal; the mus
cles being that part of which the meat is
lean. A thick neck is, both IN bulls and
rams. q proof of the muscles being large,
and there can hardly be a greater fault in
the shape Of male animal, OF either sort,
than his having thin neck.
Ina bull there ought to be full MUS
cle on each side of the back bone, just be-
hind the top of tho shouldcrbladcs: :hc ought
also to have the muscles on the outside OF
the thigh, and extending down nearly to
the hough. 1t is sufficient to say, 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 bet
ter.
A man can only look at the general
qualities of females he possesses; and OBJ
serve what are the faults most prevalent
among them; these he should be partlcu-
larly careful to avoid in the male which ne
intends to use. All that a man can DO Is
to avoid putting male and female to-
aether, whose imperfections are the same
thereby increasing the fault already. exist,
inc in his stock. 1t need not be sad tnat
those who turn two or three rams OF on,
ferent shapes and qualities into a ile'o
with all their ewes, without attempting to
make anv selections among them, have no
right to expect to be successful breeders
and if they do expect it, will certainly DC
disappointed. lii: IL hrood
There is one failing to which all breed
ers are liable, but to which the breeoer
of male animals, from the greater inter-
est attached to his occupation, is more
particularly liable, and against which &c i ne !
ought most carefully to guard himself; 'n'S
is TOO great partiaty for ANIMALS ored
bv himself: and he ought frequently I"
use the sto k belonging to other breeders
and fairly compare its merits with those