The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-09
keeping, aud faatsning Domestic
AnfIxanls.

Animals.
The science Of breeding, keeping, and fattening
domestic animals is too much neglected in the
United States. Few practical farmers have the
courage to Jake hold of the somewhat forbidden
subjects Of comparative anatomy, physiology, and
organic chemistry, with resolule purpose to un-
derstand the living organism by which grass, hay,
grain, and roots are transformed into beef, mutton
pork, butter, cheese, and wool. The natural ma
chinery for ehecting these important changes of
vegetable into animal substances, deserves to be
studied with great care, in order TO make the most
of the food consumed by every animal kept on the
farm. There is class that has reached perfection
in yielding the largest product in flesh, milk, or
WOOL for the aliment consumed in the course of its
lifetime. All are fed unequalIy- sometimes too
much, and sometimes too little; and, again, they
suffer from food more defective in quality than de-
fcient IN quantity. One often sees store pigs eat
the dung of over-fed attng hogs; and in this city,
hali-starved cows voraciously devour the solid ex
cretions of corn-fed carriage horses. In rearing
swine, they are commonly under-fed about three
tourths OF their lives and over-ed the other fourth;
so that, in the aggregate, not more than oae-haf
as much meat Is elaborated from the food taken
into the stomach of pigs might have been formed
All animals demand certain quantity of nutr-
tive matter TO preserve them a normal condition,
or to prevent their losing weight and becoming
poor and poorer. In all cases where the object is
W
weeks and months, as thousands of farmers do,
without gaining pound of flesh, although they
necessarily consume large amount of food. This
forms the manure; i. e. 100 lbs of solid matter
taken into the stomach yield 40 in dry yard dung
and urine, and no more. If we feed much above
the point of normal nutrition, portion of the ali
ment fails to enter the tactical vessels which
round the alimentary canal, and through which
digested matter passes into the blood vessels to
nourish the system This excess of food, whether
partially digested or not, passes through the
bowels, and appears as feces or dung. There is
always an immense loss in seeking to make animals
excessively fat Of course, when two or three
prices are realized for such beef, muuon or pork,
the loss in the waste Of food is paid by the consul
mer. Our object is to develope the true economy
Of making meat, regardless of the fact whether it is
sold or consumed by the producer This consists
in providing reliable supply of suitable food, so
that the animal, from its birth to the day of its
being slaughtered, should steadily gain in weight.
So long it is adding to the length and size of its
bones and muscles--growng-its system will be
little inclined to take on fat, if not over fed Ex-
cessve stuffing and no exercise bring the develop
ment of bone and muscle to premature ripeness.
They cease to expand, and you have fat Iap-dog
or pocket china pig Habitua starving will also
bring the to maturity before it attains to its
proper size. Skilful feeding implies that one never
gives too much nor too ittle and has the food well
whether horse, sheep, COW, or swine
This system of feeding is not so easy as some
may imagine for the quantity of grass that will
grow given number of acres in pasture and
meadow in dry or wet season is very unequal.
Hence, in the one case the farmer will have more
feed than stock and in the other more stock than
feed If one must err in the matter, it is usually
better to have excess, rather than deficiency Of
forage. Grass left to rot on the ground in pas
ture or meadow is far from being lost 1t improves
the soil.
After having taken all due pains to make two
blades of grass and corn grow where only one of
either grew before, the stock grower should study
closely the business of breeding domestic animals.
The leading idea in this art and science s to select
the best males and females from which to propagate
and improve the race This rule applies alike to
the equine, bovine, ovine, and swine families. In
each genus there several Species in each species
there are numerous breeds, and in the several
breeds not few varieties 1t is no part of our duty
to attempt to write up species or breed Of ami
mails, whether of cattle, horses, hogs sheep, and
to write down another. Practical farmers know
best what kind of stock will suit their land and
markets Our advice, if offered, would be quite as
likely to miss to hit the wants of the reader.
There 10 difference in the value of breeds than
many willing to admit, and less than some
breeders of improved races claim. A yearling Of
the short-horn stock, less than thirteen months old
was Wetghco III this city tcW ouyb sincc, anu
brought down six hundred and seventy-fve pounds
This hefer, which not fat, is the offspring of
Mr. Clay's importation. Another heifer Of the
same family weighed seven hundred and eighteen
pounds when fifteen months old. The mother of
the calf first named belongs to the lady with whom
the writer boards and this valuable COW gives
twenty quarts of rich milk day. There are De-
vons near here from the herd of l.. F. Allen, esq,
which are much admired for their beauty.
The Texas Telegraph, Of May "a, published at
Houston, says that wool grown in that State, and
sent to New York Market has brought Sl.25 a
fleece this season. Men buying large focks in
Mexican States, Missouri, Tennessee, and else
where, to drive into the northern parts Of Texas
Sheep husbandry is beginning TO excite considera-
BILE attention at the south and southwest
Believing as we do that this republic is likely to
enjoy great prosperity during the next ten years,
and receive large accessions to its population and
wealth from Europe, the demand for good breeding
animals will be steady and at quite remunerating
prices Whoever will take due pains to improve
his cows, sheep, horses, and swine, cannot fail TO
be well paid for his trouble.-Genesee Farmer