The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-27

AT the State Convention of Short Horn
breeders, held at Indianapolis in May
last, an address was delivered Oh this
subject BY the presiding officer, DR.. a.
G. Stevenson, to which our attention has
been called, with request for its publ
cation III the Country Gentleman We
quote as follows:
The Points Of Cattle might, with much
propriety, be divided into two classes
direct and indirect-or, such as present
their qualities direct to view, as the loin
and back, thigh and rib; and those that
are evidences of qualities not directly in
view, as the touch, which is indicative Of
tender marbled flesh and aptitude to
fatten. The eye and the countenancc are
indicative Of quiet disposition and good
temper, or the reverse, which has much
to do with the feeding qualities Of all
cattle.
The butcher is interested 10 the direct
qualities or points, as the back, lion, and
rib, which are of most value in the
shambles The carcase must cut well
into those choice bits that bring the most
money. He cares nothing for eye or
temper, or how much it may have cost
to have prepared him for the hooks. The
breeder takes a larger view He adds
to the qualities desired by the butcher
all those requisites that make an early
maturity-good flesh, and disposition
to fatten readily at any age Hence, the
mead and its appendages, which are an
abomination TO the butcher, are points of
the greatest interest to the breeder and
feeder. We now introduce to you, first
TIE HEAD.
The head should be small" This is
very imperfect description of the head,
but in too many accounts all that is given.
If the size of the head were all that was
OF consequence, pounds difference in
any case would be of little consequence
in the sale Of bullock. 1t is the form
of the head that becomes of so much in
terest to the breeder. The head above
the eyes should be wide, giving space for
large cerebral development The intelli-
gence of an animal depends upon a we'll
developed brain and nervous system, up
on which, also, so much depends the
vigorous and the healthy action of the or
gans of digestion and assimilation, the
circulation and the vital functions gener-
ally. We have already stated that the
Intelligence and temper Oft the COW depends
much upon well developed brain. 1t
will be found by observation that most
vicious beasts have small upper heads
and are large below the eyes. Again,
the upper head should be wide to give
width to tho articulations of the lower
jaw. 1t is necessary that that part Of
The mouth where the food is masticated
should be large that the supplies requir-
ed for the stomach may be well masticat-
ed and Ie-masticated in the chewing Of
the cud. There is another reason for
width at the base Of the head and between
the angles Of the lower jaw. 1t is here
that the very important passages have
their entrance that supply food for the
stomach and air for the lungs Close at
hand also, is the important connection OF
the spinal marrow and the brain, to say
nothing of many large and important
blood vessels that find their way to the
head. These considerations we think
conclusive as to the necessity of size Of
head in the cerebral portion.
That portion below The eyes the face,
should be comparatively small. Its prin-
cipal office is to gather food and air
Thin lips and an elastic nostril are
wanted.
The eyes should be large, bright aud
lively, and yet quiet. The physiognomy
of the OK is as clearly indicative of hi.
character as the character of a man is
written upon his face And the reason
that less is indicated in the face of the OK
is because he has fewer vices and has
been guilty of fewer transgressions.
A small dark eye, set in dark circle
with large face below. and a narrow
head above, will be found bad tempered
wild, and consequently a poor feeder
The circle around the eye should be of q
bright yellow collor-the nose the same
These considerations may seem trihes, YET
this color is the result of a peculiar secre.
ton, and the inference is probable one al
least, that other secretons will be apt ia
akla il. a.Io. H.. Al