A general treatise on cattle, the ox, the sheep, and the swine / by John Lawrence.

  • John Lawrence
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A general treatise on cattle, the ox, the sheep, and the swine / by John Lawrence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    perfection, commensurate with the general good shape of the animal. In the above detail we have been confined to the characteristics of strength and utility solely, leav- ing untouched the lines of beauty, which may be de- fined to consist chiefly in the oval form, or in the neat rounding of the parts. Thus in horses and neat cattle, particularly, instead of that excessive square- ness and flatness of the shoulder, the side and the buttock, depth ought to be relieved by a gentle ful- ness and swell, which are the tokens both of beauty and substance; nor should there be any sharp, boney protuberances, either upon the shoulders, or hips, to offend the eye, by detracting from the plump and even proportion of the form. Our object with cattle being simply that of fat- tening their carcases, it may be observed, that any strong and healthy animal, however awkwardly pro~ portioncd, will answer the purpose ; which is, indeed, true; but it is ilo less true, and has been confirmed by all experience, that attention to form is rewarded by quantity of product.. The general indications of health, in the hairy animals, when in a lean or store state, are suppleness of the skin, and gloss upon the coat: in sheep, perhaps, brightness of the eyes, live- liness, and good plight, are the only signs to be de- pended upon. The signs of the true milch-cow, or the indications of copious milking, in whatever species, are a capa- cious and thin udder, large teats, with a large and distinct milk-vein ; these are generally accompanied with a fineness of the head and chops; thinness of the neck, and somewhat gaunt and meagre appear- ance of body, promising no great tendency to fatten. In common, when great tackle is found, that is, a
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