DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION

OF THE

HORSE, MULE, CATTLE, SHEEP, SWINE,
POULTRY, AND FARM DOGS.

WITH DIRECTIONS FOR
THEIR MANAGEMENT, BREEDING, CROSSING, REARING,
FEEDING, AND PREPARATION FOR A
PROFITABLE MARKET

ALSO,
THEIR DISEASES, AND REMEDIES.

TOGETHER WITH
FULL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY.

By R. L. ALLEN,
AUTHOR OF "COMPEND OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE," ETC.

NEW-YORK:
ORANGE JUDD, 41 PARK ROW.
AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHER.
1865.

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Entered according to an Act of Congress in the year 1847
By RICHARD L. ALLEN,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

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INTRODUCTION.

The object of the following work, on the History, Breeding, Management, Diseases, &c., of Domestic Animals, is to afford the Stock-breeder and Grazier a connected view of the entire subject in which he has so deep an interest. The writer has endeavored to compress within the limited space assumed as necessary to secure a general circulation and perusal, such principles and practice, and give to each that relative prominence, which it becomes the practical man to observe, to realize the greatest amount of value for the labor and capital devoted to his pursuits.

Their history is essential, as it shows their introduction into the United States, their progress during the various stages of their improvement, and the comparative value of the improved and ordinary breeds. A knowledge of the best mode of breeding and management is of still higher importance. The first will enable the breeder to preserve the high character of the animals in his hands, or perhaps still farther to advance them; while proper management and feeding will prevent that deterioration and loss from disease, which frequently subtract so much from his profits.

A larger space has been purposely devoted to the last topics, in preference to the subject of diseases, as prevention is not only less troublesome than cure, but much more economical. Feeding and management, after breeding, are really the important objects in view to the Stock-breeder and Grazier, for if these be judiciously attended to, disease among the herds will rarely be known.

The subject of animal diseases is complicated and little understood; and to be properly comprehended, requires years close, intelligent study, under every advantage for obtaining the necessary information. Nearly every disorder assumes various shades of difference, and to remove it effectually a corresponding change of treatment is required. How absurd then the idea, that a compilation of formal remedies, administered by an unskilful or inexperienced manager, will be of material service in rescuing his herds or flocks from the ravages of disease. All that can consistently be done, is to give a few simple remedies for the most common and well-known ailments, and leave to nature or a professional farrier, such as are more complex or unusual.

This work (with many subsequent and important additions) constitutes a small part of the "Compend of American Agriculture," the favorable reception of which, though but recently given to the public, has induced the writer to offer this important division of the subject in its present detached form.

New York, November, 1847

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INDEX.

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@34175@[email protected]#Page_13" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">13 the lungs 14 respiration 14 effects of 17 perspiration 18 food which supplies respiration 18 circumstances which augment respiration 19 food 21 purposes fulfilled by food 22 nutritive qualities for various animals 23 profit of feeding 23 See Cattle, Sheep, &c. Ass, the 181 varieties 181 characteristics 182 breeding in the U. States 182 as a beast of burden 183   Breeding—principles of 11 See Cattle, Sheep, &c.   Cattle—neat or horned 26 various domestic breeds 26 native cattle 27 Devons 29 short horns 30 Herefords 35 Ayrshire 38 management of calves 39 breeding 41 breaking steers 42 management of oxen 42 fattening and stall-feeding 45 Diseases 41, 50

align="left" class="indent2">hoven 50 choking 52 inflammation of stomach 52 mange or scab 52 horn-ail—jaundice 53 mad-itch—bloody murrain 54 hoof-ail 55 loss of cud—scours or diarrhœa—warbles or grubs—wounds—puerperal or milk-fever 56 caked bags—garget—sore teats—warts 57 Cows for dairy 60 management of 61 milking 61 See Dairy. Comparative value of oxen and horses 190 Churns 69   Dairy, the 60 Dairy—selection and management of cows 60, 61 milking 61 properties of milk 62 variations in 63 cream—clouted ditto 65 Making butter from sour, sweet, and clouted cream 66, 67 sourness of cream 68 quickness in churning 68 over-churning 69 temperature of milk and cream 69 advantages of churn'g the whole 69 cleanliness in churning 70 premium butter, how made 70 Orange county do. do. 71 Making cheese, how effected 72 creamed and uncreamed 73

class="indent2">buttermilk cheese 73 whey do. 74 vegetable substances added 74 preparation of rennet 75 different qualities of cheese 77 warming the milk 77 quality of rennet 78 quantity of rennet 78 treatment of curd 79 separation of whey 80 cheese, salting 81 addition of cream 81 size of cheese 81 mode of curing 82 ammoniacal cheese 82 inoculating do. 82 premium cheese, how made 83 Ducks—see Poultry.   Farm dogs 207-214 Feeding defined 21 See Cattle, Sheep, &c. Food, comparative nutritive qualities of 22 how given, purposes fulfilled by it 22 changes in 24 See Animals, Products, &c.   Geese—see Poultry. Guinea-hen—see ditto.   Hens—see Poultry. Hinny—see Ass. Horse—the Arabian and Barb 138 the English 139 American 141 Arabians in America

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@34175@[email protected]#Page_139" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">139, 140 Ranger, the Barb—Bussorah—Narraganset pacers—Messenger, imported 140 Morgan horses 142 Canadian and Spanish 143 Conestoga 143 Norman 144 Cart, Cleveland bay, Belfounder 145 Eclipse, American 141 points of 146 habits 147 breeding 148 management of colts 149 breaking 150 longevity, feeding 151 Diseases 154 glanders 154 lampas, heaves, &c. 155 catarrh or distemper, spasmodic colic 156 flatulent colic 158 inflammation of bowels 159 physicking 162 worms 164 bots 164 wind-galls 165 the fetlock 166 cutting 166 sprain of the coffin-joint—ringbone 167 enlargement of the hock 168 curb 168 bone-spavin—swelled legs 170 grease 171 setons 173 founder—poison from weeds 174

align="left" class="indent2">inflammation of the eyes 175 stings of hornets, &c. 175 sprain 175 bruises—fistula 176 wounds—galls 176 shoeing, contraction of the foot 176 corns 177 over-reach, forging or clicking 178 the bearing-rein 178 the bit 179 stables 180 comparative labor with oxen 190   Mule, the—breeding in the U. S. 183 rearing and management 184 advantages over horse labor 185 valuable qualities 185 enduringness of 186 in California 188 economy of mule-labor 189   Poultry—their value 214 Hens—constituent of eggs 214 food 215 general management 216 the poultry-house 218 varieties 220, 221 diseases 222 Turkey, the 223 breeding and management 223 Peacock, the 224 Goose, the—varieties—breeding 225 feeding and food 225 Ducks—feeding—varieties 226 breeding and rearing

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@34175@[email protected]#Page_227" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">227   Sheep, the 84 uses of—importance of 85 varieties of wild—domesticated 87 native 89 Merino, the, history of 90 exportation from Spain 92 importation into the U. States 93 varieties 94 Saxon, the 96 Rambouillet, the 99 history of Merino in U. States 101 improvements of 102 peculiarities of 103 breeding 104 localities for rearing 106 South-Down, the, history of 106 Cheviot, the 109 Long-wools, the 110 improvement of the Bakewell 110 improvement of Cotswold and Lincolnshire 112 peculiarities of the Long-wools 113 importation into the U. States 113 breeding sheep 113 Winter management 116 sheep-barns and sheds 116 racks, mangers, and troughs 117 food 118 management of ewes, yeaning 119 management of lambs 119 castrating and docking 120 tagging or clatting 121 Summer management and food 121 washing

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@34175@[email protected]#Page_122" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">122 shearing 124 smearing and salving 125 weaning 126 drafting 126 stall feeding—management on the prairies 127 Diseases 128 diarrhœa or scours 129 looseness in lambs, dysentery 130 hoven, braxy 130 costiveness, stretches, poison, inflammation of lungs, rot 131 foot-rot 132 flies, maggots, gad-fly 133 swollen mouth, foul noses, weakness, scab 134 ticks, pelt-rot, staggers or sturdy 135 abortion, garget, bleeding 136 wounds 137 to protect from wolves and foxes 138 Shepherd's dog 209 Swine 192 various breeds 194 breeding and rearing 198 rearing and fattening, large weights 199 treatment of food 201 products of the carcass 202 lard oil, how made 203 slearine and oleine 203 curing pork and hams 203 Diseases 204 coughs and inflammation of the lungs, costiveness, itch, kidney-worm 205 blind staggers 206   Wild Boar 193

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DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS—GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING, NUTRITION, MANAGEMENT, &c.

The

principal domestic animals reared for economical purposes in the United States, are Horned or neat cattle, the Horse, the Mule, Sheep, and Swine. A few Asses are bred, but for no other object than to keep up the supply of jacks for propagating mules. We have also goats, rabbits, and the house domestics, the dog and cat; the two former, only in very limited numbers, but both the latter much beyond our legitimate wants. There have been a few specimens of the Alpaca imported, and an arrangement is now in progress for the introduction of a flock of several hundred, which, if distributed among intelligent and wealthy agriculturists, as proposed, will test their value for increasing our agricultural resources. We shall confine ourselves to some general considerations, connected with the first-mentioned and most important of our domestic animals.

Their number as shown by the agricultural statistics collected in 1839, by order of our General Government, was 15,000,000 neat cattle; 4,335,000 horses and mules, (the number of each not being specified;) 19,311,000 sheep; and 26,300,000 swine. There is much reason to question the entire accuracy of these returns, yet there is doubtless an approximation to the truth. Sheep have greatly increased since that period, and would probably number, the present year, (1848,) not less than 30,000,000; and if our own manufactures continue to thrive, and we should moreover become wool exporters, of which there is now a reasonable prospect, an accurate return for 1850, will undoubtedly give us not less than 33,000,000 for the entire Union. There has been a great increase in the value of the other animals enumerated, but not in a ratio corresponding with that of sheep. This is not only manifest in their augmented numbers, but in the gradual and steady improvement of the species.

It may be safely predicted, that this improvement will not only be sustained, but largely increased; for there are some intelligent and spirited breeders to be found in every section of the country, whose liberal exertions and successful examples are doing much for this object. Wherever intelligence and sound judgment are to be found, it will be impossible long to resist the effects of a comparison between animals, which, on an equal quantity of the same food, with the same attention and in the same time, will return 50, 20, or even 10 per cent. more in their intrinsic value or marketable product, than the ordinary class. This improvement has been, relatively, most conspicuous in the Western and Southern states; not that the present average of excellence in their animals surpasses, or even reaches that of the North and East; but the latter have long been pursuing this object, with more or less energy, and they have for many years had large numbers of excellent specimens of each variety; while with few exceptions, if we exclude the blood-horse or racing nag, the former have, till recently, paid comparatively little attention to the improvement of their domestic animals. The spirit for improvement through extensive sections, is now awakened, and the older settled portions of the country may hereafter expect competitors, whose success will be fully commensurate with their own. Before going into the management of the different varieties, we will give some general principles and remarks applicable to the treatment of all.

The purpose for which animals are required, should be first determined, before selecting such as may be necessary either for breeding or use. Throughout the Northeastern states, cows for the dairy, oxen for the yoke, and both for the butcher, are wanted. In much of the West and South, beef alone is the principal object; while the dairy is neglected, and the work of the ox is seldom relied on, except for occasional drudgery.

Sheep may be wanted almost exclusively for the fleece, or for the fleece and heavy mutton, or in the neighborhood of markets, for large early lambs. The pastures and winter food, climate, and other conditions, present additional circumstances, which should be well considered before determining on the particular breed, either of cattle or sheep, that will best promote the interest of the farmer.

The kind of work for which the horse may be wanted, whether as a roadster, for the saddle, as a heavy team horse, or the horse of all work, must be first decided, before selecting the form or character of the animal.

The range of pig excellence is more circumscribed, as it is only necessary to breed such as will yield the greatest amount of valuable carcass, within the shortest time, and with the least expense.

PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING.

All breeding is founded on the principle, that like begets like. This is, however, liable to some exceptions, and is much more generally true when breeding down than when breeding up. If two animals (which can never be exactly similar in all respects) are requisite to the perpetuation of the species, it necessarily results, that the progeny must differ in a more or less degree from each parent. With wild animals, and such of the domestic as are allowed to propagate without the interference of art, and whose habits, treatment, and food are nearly similar to their natural condition, the change through successive generations is scarcely perceptible. It is only when we attempt to improve their good qualities, that it is essential carefully to determine, and rigidly to apply, what are adopted as the present scientific principles of breeding. We cannot believe that we have penetrated beyond the mere threshold of this art. Unless, then, we launch into experiments, which are necessarily attended with uncertainty, our duty will be, to take for our guide the most successful practice of modern times, until further discoveries enable us to modify or add to such as are already known and adopted. We may assume, then, as the present rules for this art,

1st. That the animals selected for breed, should unite in themselves all the good qualities we wish to perpetuate in the offspring.

2d. These qualities, technically called points, should be inbred in the animals as far as practicable, by a long line of descent from parents similarly constituted. The necessity for this rule is evident from the fact, that in mixing different species, and especially mongrels, with a long-established breed, the latter will most strongly stamp the issue with its own peculiarities. This is forcibly illustrated in the case of the Devon cattle, an ancient race, whose color, form, and characteristics are strikingly perpetuated, sometimes to the sixth or even a later generation. So far is this principle carried by many experienced breeders, that they will use an animal of indifferent external appearance, but of approved descent, (blood,) in preference to a decidedly superior one, whose pedigree is imperfect.

3d. All the conditions of soil, situation, climate, treatment, and food, should be favorable to the object sought.

4th. As a general rule, the female should be relatively larger than the male. This gives ample room for the perfect development of the fœtus, easy parturition, and a large supply of milk for the offspring, at a period in its existence, when food has a greater influence in perfecting character and form, than at any subsequent time.

5th. Exceptions to this rule may be made, when greater size is required than can be obtained from the female, and especially when more vigor and hardiness of constitution are desirable. For this purpose, strong masculine development in the sire is proper, and if otherwise unattainable, something of coarseness may be admitted, as this may be afterwards corrected, and nothing will atone for want of constitution and strength.

6th. Pairing should be with a strict reference to correcting the imperfections

of one animal, by a corresponding excellence in the other.

7th. Breeding in-and-in, or propagating from animals nearly allied, may be tolerated under certain circumstances, though seldom; and only in extreme cases between those of the same generation, as brother and sister. When the animal possesses much stamina and peculiar merit, which it is desired to perpetuate in the breed, it may be done either in the ascending or descending line, as in breeding the son to the parent, or the parent to his own progeny. This has been practised with decided advantage, and in some cases has even been continued successively, as low as the sixth generation.

8th. It is always better to avoid close relationship, by the selection of equally meritorious stock-getters of the same breed, from other sources.

9th. Wholesome, nutritious food, at all times sufficient to keep the animals steadily advancing, should be provided, but they must never be allowed to get fat. Of the two evils, starving is preferable to surfeit. Careful treatment, and the absence of disease, must be always fully considered.

10th. Animals should never be allowed to breed either too early or too late in life. These periods cannot be arbitrarily laid down, but must depend on their time of maturity, the longevity of the breed, and the stamina of the individual.

11th. No violent cross, or mixing of distinct breeds, should ever be admitted for the purposes of perpetuation, as of cattle of diverse sizes; horses of unlike characters; the Merino and the long-wools, or even the long, or short, and the middle-wools. For carcass and constitution, these crosses are unexceptionable; and it is a practice very common in this country, and judicious enough where the whole produce is early destined for the shambles. But when the progeny are designed for breeders, the practice should be branded with unqualified reprehension.