The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-11-02
Pampered Stock.

The following article relates to matter
that is becoming of vital interest to breed
ers of good stocks every where. Some Of
the cattle exhibited at our State Fair
this fall were by far too fat for healthy
breeding stock. Such excessive high con-
dition only tends to weaken the constitu-
tional vigor as well as the reproductive
power Of the animals, and if persisted in
through many generations will most assur-
eddy make itself felt to the damage of
those practising the same. A great load
of fat may look pleasing to the eye, espec-
tally if the animal may have some defec-
tive points covered over thereby but it is
a feverish, unnatural condition, and one
that is the natural harbinger, and breeder
of all kinds of inhamatory diseases, and
therefore one of peril. A good growing,
thrifty, but moderate condition, induced
by liberal, but not high feeding, is the
safest as it must be the most profitable in
the end.
1t is from the pen Of the Hon. Y. G.
Jones, who gives his view in the Ohio
Farmer on this subject, which is an impor-
tant one. The suggestions fudge Jones
are worthy of the attentionof breeders
at is certainly to be regretted, that
when the prospect for the general diffu-
sion of the blood of so valuable race Of
domestic animals as the Short-Horn cattle
seems so encouraging, there should be any
of the breeder of these noble animals
practicing such system of feeding and
management as cannot fail to have injuri-
Gus effects upon the breed. High feed
ing, pampering and "training" for exhib-
ition and sale, are not only calculated
and intended to deceive and impose up
on the public, but tend, also, as every
intelligent breeder knows, to impair the
health, the constitutional vigor, and all
the useful qualities of our herds.
Cattle are wanted for use, and not as
mere ornaments and therefore the best
are those which make the largest return
in good flesh and milk for the food con-
sumed and the care bestowed upon them
OF course we cannot expect an animal to
be successful under such test as this
that has not sound constitution, with
snch substance of bone and lean flesh as
plenty of good grazing, with the exercise
it will afford, alone can produce.
To confne cattle in stalls from calf:
hood, and feed them with oil meal and
similar tat-producing substances; to coy
er with blankets and rub and curry a.
horses are trained for the race, excep
that the sweating and exercise are omitted
will undoubtedly cover almost any ami
NAL with fat, give fine gloss to the hair
and therefore, to an Impractical hand
convey the idea of superior handling
The flesh will be soft, the hide yielding
and fabby whereas if the same amour
of flesh had been laid on with ordinary
feeding and grazing with proper exer
else, the flesh would feel firm and solid
though the skin would not have harsl
touch. When will our judges learn tina
thin and fahay hide is Objectionable, a
is also soft and spongy flesh, when tn,
animal is ripc-iat? There is scarcely
butcher in America so ignorant as not t,
know this.
1t is a woll-hnown fact that up to tn,
period of 1879 or $40, the majority o
Short Horns were kept only for grain,
and dairy purposes, and We're treate,
with only such feeding ane care as tn,
ordinary stoc. Of good farmers had. |
we may be permitted to express the hop
that the DurhLms of our day are equa
to those Of that period, it is very certai
that we have no cvlpence on which +
ground the assertion that they are an
better.
While. therefore, the pampcrng an
training, so common in our day, have i
many instance, very decidedly impaire
the constitution, the milking, grazing an
other useful qualities, all intelligent me
know that the Practice has not even in
proved the siy.c and appearance of tn
stock. While tat and in training, the
have indeed looked sleek and smooth, an
their soft and ilalby handling has passe
with experienced men for quality b'
when put on ordinary keeping and use
for then common purposes Of producir
milk or beef they have sadly disappoin
ed the expectations Of those who purchase
them in The show condition.
do not object to keeping stock
good order. Cattle should have plen
of the best pasture in the grazing seaso
and Of the best hay or its equivalent
Winter, with some meal or grain to I
calves aud cows with milk. Nor is
moderate allowance of grain to all t
stock in Winter Objectionable and VIII
corn is not too dear, is probably not me
expensive than to feed hay alone. VIII
object to is the unnatural method,
ready stated, Of so much housing a
Overlooking with oil cake, large yuan
ties of milk, etc, so that breeding a
mails, old and young, are kept just as
as all this care and stufhng will ma
them and that, not with honest, so
flesh, of well marbled (lean and fat,)
good beef ought to be, but of the soft a
greasy sort, that will produce the fashi'
ahla touch 4"