Cattle and Cattle-breeders Read online

  In treatment I have no confidence, having tried everything that could be tried and completely failed. I would, however, recommend that neither hay nor straw be given to animals labouring under the disease. I lost a valuable bull, after he was recovering, from this cause. He was allowed to eat too freely of hay, which he could not masticate; and when opened after death, an ordinary bucketful of hay was found in his stomach, as dry as when it was eaten. I have come to the conclusion that no animal should be allowed hay or straw while unable properly to masticate its food. It is well ascertained that when the poison is lying dormant in an animal, it will infect the other cattle before it is visible in itself. As a confirmation of this fact, I had a sale of breeding stock after the Dumfries show, on Thursday, 30th August 1860. The cattle seemed to be in perfect health on the day of the sale; about three-fourths of them were removed on Friday. The day following—viz., Saturday—a cow was taken ill. I entertained fears that it might turn out pleuro-pneumonia; and circulars were sent to the parties who had removed their cattle. The buyers isolated the cattle bought at the sale from their own stock. Two of the beasts that had been removed died, other two took the complaint and recovered; but fortunately it did not spread amongst the buyers other stock. The cow first taken ill recovered, and another that was left over took the disease and recovered. But, further, a bull was withdrawn from the sale and sent home to Tillyfour from Dorsell the night of the sale, to all appearance in perfect health, though he afterwards died of the disease. He was watered at a watering-place on the roadside, where a crofter's cattle watered daily. The crofter's cattle went down in the disease, and one of them died. Many were the weary days and restless nights I endured when the disease got fairly developed through two of my largest steadings. It is in such cases that the value of a clear-headed veterinary surgeon is appreciated. I would not be well away from one steading, when a messenger would meet me with intelligence of some disaster at the other. I had many beasts being fed on other farms as well as those on my own—not fewer than 400 one way or other. I have said how much I am indebted in such emergencies to the advice and counsel of a clear-headed veterinary surgeon. The disease was in the midst of my breeding stock, and two or three had succumbed to it. Mr Sorely and I were brooding over this state of matters, when I asked him whether he could do anything to save the herd. He said, "I will think over it till to-morrow." He came on the morrow, and seven successive evenings, and administered to each animal a drench, and he would trust no one but himself to do it. I believe there were three changes of medicine; not one animal which got the medicine took the disease, although they had been standing in the midst of it. There was one worthless old milk cow amongst the others, that I did not think worth the trouble of giving the medicine to; she took the disease, and was fed with gruel for fourteen days, and recovered, while the others continued in perfect health.

  I have related the diseases that are of a local character, as they have come under my own notice, without any desire to set myself up as an authority. My experience has led me to differ in many respects from eminent authorities. I have merely stated my own experiences during a lifetime that has been devoted to the management of cattle; they are written with no view of superseding the valuable assistance of the veterinary surgeon; but every farmer ought to know and be able to treat the local diseases incident in his neighbourhood which are not of a dangerous character. When they are dangerous, the owner ought to be able to distinguish them at once; and in that case not a moment should be lost in calling in the aid of a veterinary surgeon.

  THE END.

  PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.

  * * *

  FOOTNOTES

  1 (Return)

  As to giving potatoes to store cattle, since writing the above, I wish to modify the opinion I have expressed to a certain extent. I had a conversation with Mr Hope on the subject, and he states that his belief is, that potatoes are not prejudicial to the growth of store cattle when put to grass, and that his practice is to give them potatoes. I will admit that a few potatoes may not do a store beast much harm; but in my experience in Aberdeenshire I have found that in cattle which have been fed with potatoes the black colour changes to a dusty brown; they are also bad thrivers. A beast that sports that colour is never doing well. I shall, however, prosecute the inquiry.

  2 (Return)

  For description of a day at Tillyfour, see Dixon's 'Field and Fern,' Part North, p. 158-181.

  3 (Return)

  Whisky and oatmeal mixed.

  4 (Return)

  Since the amalgamation between the Caledonian Railway and the Scottish North-Eastern took place, the returns of cattle and dead meat sent to London and elsewhere have not been given to the public. The Caledonian Company refused repeatedly to give them, and when pressed by myself, offered to let me have access to the accumulated pile of forwarding-notes for the last four years! The following valuable statistics, compiled by Mr James Valentine, Aberdeen, show that the proportion of dead meat sent to London is on the increase:--

  1. The cattle and dead meat sent by sea during the past three years stood:--

  Year. Cattle.

  Number. Dead Meat.

  Tons.

  1866, 5483 499

  1867, 2770 487

  1868, 6313 380

  2. Of dead meat booked "through" per Great North of Scotland Railway, the amount for five years was:--

  Year. Tons.

  1864 1848

  1865 2874

  1866 3346

  1867 3414

  1868 3544

  3. The number of cattle-hides passing through the hands of the dealers in Aberdeen during 1867 was, in whole, 49,181. In 1868 the number was 42,115, besides 13,167 from the county, and 3125 from Kincardineshire. If we set down each animal slaughtered at 6 cwt., this would give a total of 17,500 tons; or, deducting the town's consumption (say 2500 tons), 15,000 tons sent south for the year. Probably, however, though hides to this amount dealt with in Aberdeen, represent meat as stated, part of the meat may be included in the category "booked through per Great North." Supposing, therefore, that the whole amount of dead meat despatched from Aberdeen from every quarter, in 1868, was 15,000 tons, we may assume that, in addition, 7500 cattle were sent south. The tendency of late years has undoubtedly been to send fewer live stock and more dead meat to the London market, and also to send more cattle by sea and dead meat by rail.

  5 (Return)

  Mr M'Combie has taken a very prominent position since the above was written. At the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen he gained the first prize for the best yearling bull, the first prize for the best two-year-old bullock, and other prizes.

  6 (Return)

  Since the first edition of this book was published, Colonel Fraser's stock has taken a leading position. At the Royal Northern Agricultural Society's show in 1867, he gained the Polled challenge-cup. The cup has to be gained for three successive years by the same party, and with different animals, before it becomes his property. I had gained it the two preceding years, and it was now fairly within my grasp. It was my last asking, but it was dashed from my lips, and went for the time to Castle Fraser, instead of going to Tillyfour for ever. Colonel Fraser likewise gained the first prize for the same cow at the Highland Society's show at Glasgow in 1867; and again carried first honours with a younger cow at the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen last summer.

  Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene's farm-manager has great merit by his indefatigable exertions in bringing up the Easter Skene stock to its high position. He is an old and respected servant of my own, and nothing gives him so much satisfaction as to beat his old master. Mr Hampton, manager for Castle Fraser, deserves equal credit for his unwearied exertions in improving the Castle Fraser stock.

  7 (Return)

  Mr Skinner was an exhibitor at the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen last summer, and gained the first prize for his two-year-old heifer.

  8 (Return)

  I have been accused of cruelty fo
r cording the dewlaps of my calves. The pain must be of short duration, as it is done by a sharp instrument in a moment.

  * * *

  WORKS ON RURAL AFFAIRS.

  * * *

  The Book of the Farm.

  Detailing the Labours of the Farmer, Farm-Steward, Ploughman, Shepherd, Hedger, Cattle-man, Field-worker, and Dairymaid, and forming a safe Monitor for Students in Practical Agriculture. By Henry Stephens, F.R.S.E. Two Volumes, Royal Octavo, £3, handsomely bound in cloth, with upwards of 600 Illustrations.

  "The best book I have ever met with."—Professor Johnston.

  "We have thoroughly examined these volumes; but to give a full notice of their varied and valuable contents would occupy a larger space than we can conveniently devote to their discussion; we therefore, in general terms, commend them to the careful study of every young man who wishes to become a good practical farmer."—Times.

  The Book of Farm Implements and Machines.

  By James Slight and R. Scott Burn. Edited by Henry Stephens, F.R.S.E. Illustrated with 876 Engravings. Royal Octavo, uniform with the 'Book of the Farm,' half-bound, £2, 2s.

  The Book of Farm Buildings: their Arrangement and Construction.

  By Henry Stephens, F.R.S.E., and R. Scott Burn. Royal Octavo, with 1045 Illustrations. Uniform with the 'Book of the Farm.' Half-bound, £1, 11s. 6d.

  The Forester: A Practical Treatise on the Planting, Rearing, and Management of Forest-Trees.

  By James Brown, Wood Manager to the Earl of Seafield. Third Edition, greatly enlarged, with numerous Engravings on Wood. Royal Octavo, 30s.

  "Beyond all doubt this is the best work on the subject of Forestry extant."—Gardeners' Journal.

  Physiology at the Farm, in Rearing and Feeding the Live Stock.

  By William Seller, M.D., F.R.S.E., and Henry Stephens, F.R.S.E. Octavo, 16s.

  Occasional Papers on Veterinary Subjects.

  By William Dick, late Professor of Veterinary Surgery to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, &c. &c. With a Memoir and Portrait. [In the press.

  * * *

  William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London.

  * * *

  Price One Guinea.

  THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE;

  CONTAINING DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESOURCES OF LANDED PROPERTY; DETAILING THE DUTIES OF THE LANDLORD, FACTOR, TENANT, FORESTER, AND LABOURER.

  By ROBERT E. BROWN,

  Factor and Estate Agent, Wass, Yorkshire.

  In One Volume, royal 8vo, uniform with Mr Stephens's

  'Book of the Farm,' with numerous Engravings.

  * * *

  Pall Mall Gazette.

  "Apart from its own substantial merits, Mr Brown's tall and stout volume is emphatically a sign of the times. It is a product of a period of revolution in the ideas and habits of English landowners.... Mr Brown's book offers minute and ample answers to every possible inquiry which the landowner's ingenuity can suggest."

  Saturday Review.

  "Mr Brown is always ready with an intelligent reason for whatever, from the vantage-ground of experience, he takes upon him to recommend. Indeed there is not a chapter from which any reader may not gain something.... It is impossible even to glance at a tithe of the useful information and advice contained in this volume, which will be certain to be the landlord and the agent's vade-mecum."

  North British Agriculturist.

  "Mr Brown is plain and practical in his remarks; he is evidently a cautious and sensible land agent, and his valuable work testifies to his having made good use of his opportunities, his observation, and his experience."

  Economist.

  "We can heartily commend this book for the instruction of both landowners and estate agents. It is full of solid practical knowledge, clearly arranged and expressed—a repertory of all that is essential to be known theoretically by the managers of properties."

  Bell's Weekly Messenger.

  "A work admirably calculated to produce a better state of things, not only by pointing out to landowners the advantages that must inevitably accrue to them from their estates being properly cultivated, but by showing how that object may be attained."

  * * *

  William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London.

  * * *

  MESSRS BLACKWOOD AND SONS'

  NEW PUBLICATIONS.

  * * *

  Works of George Eliot.

  * * *

  A New Edition, complete in One Volume, Crown Octavo,

  FELIX HOLT, THE RADICAL.

  By GEORGE ELIOT.

  With Seven Engravings, price 3s. 6d.

  Uniform with the above,

  ADAM BEDE. With 7 Engravings, 3s. 6d.

  THE MILL ON THE FLOSS. With 7 Engravings, 3s. 6d.

  SILAS MARNER. With 3 Engravings, 2s. 6d.

  SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE. With 7 Engravings, 3s.

  NEW AND CHEAP EDITION.

  THE SPANISH GYPSY.

  By GEORGE ELIOT.

  A New Edition, being the Third, in Crown Octavo, price 7s. 6d.

  A TRANSLATION

  OF THE

  ODES AND EPODES OF HORACE.

  By the Right Honourable LORD LYTTON.

  [In the Press.

  * * *

  New Volume of Poems by the Author of 'Roba di Roma.'

  GRAFFITI D'ITALIA.

  By W. W. STORY. In foolscap 8vo, price 7s. 6d.

  ON SEATS AND SADDLES, BITS AND BITTING, AND THE PREVENTION AND CURE OF RESTIVENESS IN HORSES.

  By FRANCIS DWYER, Major of Hussars in the Imperial Austrian Service. Crown 8vo, with Eight Engravings and numerous Diagrams, price 7s. 6d.

  "The Major is no theoretical dogmatist, but a scientific writer practically acquainted with the nature, capacities, and requirements of the creature."—Athenæum.

  "A book of signal value. In this work we have some of the soundest and most valuable suggestions we have read. No man who owns or rides a horse should leave this work unstudied."—Sunday Times.

  THE HANDY HORSE-BOOK;

  Or, Practical Instructions in Riding, Driving, and the General Care and Management of Horses. By A CAVALRY OFFICER. A New Edition, with 6 Engravings, 4s. 6d.

  "As cavalry officer, hunting horseman, coach proprietor, whip, and steeplechase-rider, the author has had long and various experience in the management of horses, and he now gives us the cream of his information."—Athenæum.

  "He propounds no theories, but embodies in simple untechnical language what he has learned practically."—Sporting Gazette.

  THE TREATMENT OF OUR DOMESTICATED DOGS.