Part 8

About this time, whether he is castrated or whether he is “twisted,” he preserves always the altered form of the bull, and is less sought for work, and in less request for butchering.

When the operations of castration and twisting are done too late, the animal has less predisposition to fatten; his flesh is harder and tougher; he is, however, in appearance in the same conditions of age, of quality, and of nourishment, as those castrated earlier.

Often bulls, whose character is docile and gentle, become wild and furious when they are used to serve.

In certain regions, to tame them, they put a ring of iron in their nose; in others, where the good use of these rings is not known, they are obliged to castrate or twist them. This operation suffices, generally, to control their passion; but, if not, they are sent to the butcher.

Classification of Bull Reproducers.

There are for bulls, as for cows, ten classes or families; each class sub-divided into several orders, and each order comprises three grades, high, medium, and low.

I only admit, in each class, three orders. If one wishes to proceed in the application with more rigor, he will follow the sub-divisions of the classification of the cows. I will designate the three orders of each class by the denominations of good, medium, and bad.

The signs indicating the qualities which render the bull likely to beget good milk cows are placed, like those of the female, on the posterior parts. They start from the bag, and rise up to the anus, covering, also, the genital parts, and the scrotum.

With bulls, the escutcheons start from the anterior part of the bag, extending inside, and upon the hams, projecting on the thighs; from there, the curved lines, obtuse or acute, following the class, joining to the right or the left under the anus.

The escutcheon, in all its extent, is shown by the fineness of the hair, and the skin; by the color, more or less yellow, of the epidermis, and of the particles of dandruff which can be detached.

The characteristic secondary signs of the females will also be found in the males.

Bulls, like cows, have four and, sometimes, six false teats, which are found before the bag, in the direction of the navel. These teats are small and short.

Starting from the bag, one notices to the right and the left of the stomach two veins resembling the two milk veins of cows. They are prolonged to and pass a little in the direction of the navel, and terminate in a small cavity.

Independent of the characteristic signs indicated above, the bull re-producers should unite all the essential conditions which in each locality constitute the type of the pure race. These conditions are:

1. The color of the hide preferred in that country.

2. A size proportioned to the race that they are to continue. A shape and a frame usually accepted.

3. To be of the first order in each class, easily showing the power of transmitting milking qualities.

4. Aptitude for fattening.

5. To be good for work.

6. To have a docile and patient character.

The evils of conformation, like the good qualities, are transmitted generally by the act of generation. If it does not have the ability to do this, one should quickly correct it.

Here the bovine race has been much neglected in all these respects. A judicious choice, and a scrupulous attention is not always prevalent in selecting a breeding animal; thus it results in a fatal re-generation, to which it is time to put a stop.

Before giving the distinctive characteristics of the ten classes of bulls, it will be useful to mention those classes which are oftener met in French and foreign races; and also those which are more rare.

The classes which are most distributed, and which present the greatest number of bulls, are in all races these three classes: 1. The Curved-line; 2. The Limousine; 3. The Horizontal.

The classes on the contrary, which present but a very small number of subjects are in the following order:

4. Demijohn. 5. Bicorne. 6. Square-cut. 7. Selvage. 8. Left Flanders. 9. Double Selvage. 10. Flanders.

The reason one finds so few good breeding bulls belonging to the first class, is first, the small number of such animals compared to that of cows; and next, the lack of knowledge of the best ones to keep. Oftentimes for want of this knowledge, the best bulls were castrated for oxen or for fattening, thus by chance, the poorest are often kept.

The best individuals have generally at birth, all the qualities which characterize a superior animal. They are easily kept and fattened, for the reason that their mother has much milk, and are soon ready for the butcher. Inferior animals, on account of a smaller supply of milk, are thin, and often malicious, of little value, and remain oftener in the hands of the owner. Thus are sacrificed the good bulls, and the bad are kept. Therefore, always select the choicest when they are young, to improve the race.

It will thus be seen, Guenon divided his bulls into three classes: The good, the mediocre, and the bad. He also divided them into three sizes: The high, the medium, and the low. But he makes no difference between the three sizes of bulls in his description of the escutcheon. He describes each one of the three principal orders, leaving to the practitioner to determine the intermediate degrees between the good and the mediocre, and between the mediocre and the bad.

We do not repeat his descriptions, as they are based upon those of the cows of the same classes, and the engravings tell the whole story. We reproduce the engravings of the good and mediocre. But very occasionally is one of the “rare” ones observed, but he says the Curved-line is the most usual, then the Limousine, and lastly the Horizontal. What we give is quite sufficient for all practical purposes. We advise all to carefully select their breeding animal, which will, in most cases, be from among what he calls the “mediocre.”

REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GUENON COMMISSION.

At the annual meeting of the Board held January 2, 1878, it was

“_Resolved_, That the president of the Board (His Excellency Governor John F. Hartranft) be authorized and requested to appoint a commission of experts, who shall inquire into and report upon the reliability of the Guenon or escutcheon theory for selecting milking stock; said report to be made to the secretary of the Board on or before the 1st of November next.”

In accordance with this request, His Excellency Governor Hartranft issued the following commission:

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRISBURG, _April 24, 1878_.

To GEORGE BLIGHT, Esq., _of the city of Philadelphia_; CHALKLEY HARVEY, Esq., _of the county of Delaware_, and WILLIS P. HAZARD, Esq., _of the county of Chester_:

GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to inform you that you have been duly appointed a committee by the State Board of Agriculture to investigate and test “The Guenon Milk Escutcheon Theory,” and report the result thereof to the secretary of said Board.

JNO. F. HARTRANFT, _Governor and President of the Board_.

_November 1, 1878._

To the Honorable JNO. F. HARTRANFT, _Governor and President of the Board of Agriculture_:

YOUR EXCELLENCY: In compliance with the commission tendered us, we beg leave most respectfully to report that we have visited a number of herds and have examined two hundred cows, the result of which is herewith submitted.

Having performed to the best of our ability the duty assigned us, we beg leave to be discharged from further consideration of the question.

Respectfully yours,

GEORGE BLIGHT, _Philadelphia_, CHALKLEY HARVEY, _Chad’s Ford_, WILLIS P. HAZARD, _West Chester_.

The Pennsylvania Guenon Commission having been appointed “to investigate and test the Guenon or Milk Escutcheon theory, and report the result thereof,” respectfully report that they have examined two hundred cows, heifers, and bulls, and the result of their examinations has been to convince themselves and others of the merits of the system, of its exceeding value to the practical farmer; and they believe that if generally followed for twenty years, the value of the neat cattle of the State would be increased vastly, the amount of milk and butter produced would be much larger, and the quality of both articles better, while the quality of the meat would be improved. Having believed in and practised the system for many years, they would add that their recent extended and careful examinations and contact with a number of owners of all grades of stock, has tended to confirm them more thoroughly in their belief. As an adjunct to previous knowledge to assist purchasers or breeders of cattle in getting or raising the best, and weeding out the poorest, they think it is worthy of being acquired by every farmer. And they would recommend their fellow farmers not to be dismayed at the apparent difficulties to be surmounted in obtaining a knowledge of the system, as it is only absolutely necessary to acquire a knowledge of the first four orders of each class, and a few other points, to practically apply it, as all animals below those grades are not worthy of being kept. Any intelligent man can readily master the system, and soon become proficient in it by practice. This knowledge, applied with the tests heretofore usually used, will enable any one to become a good judge of cattle.

The manner of making up their account of each animal is to examine the escutcheon and the udder, from which they place her in the class and order nearest to those delineated by Guenon, and then estimate the quantity, quality, and time that she will milk. These estimates must be, of course, only _approximate_, as they are based upon the indications of the escutcheon, the size of the cow, and her probable condition. As it is readily seen that where estimates are based upon what the cow should do _within three months of her being fresh_, it would be impossible to always grade the exact value of all the cows in a herd, each of which is at a different period of gestation, or in a different condition or state of health, and where also the cow is affected by the way in which she is fed and cared for, by the season, by the state of the temperature, and other circumstances. The estimates are based upon what the commission thinks the cow would do when all the conditions are favorable to her development, and where she is properly fed and cared for. A record is made by the commission on the spot. An account of the qualities of each head is drawn up by the owner. Each is made at separate times, and without the knowledge of the other party. Then the two accounts are copied off into parallel columns for comparison. If the accounts agree in seventy-five per cent. out of one hundred, it certainly must be presumed the system has sufficient value to make it worthy of adoption by all farmers and breeders. As every farmer knows the yield is much influenced by the feed, the care, the exposure, and the treatment of the cows; therefore, a certain amount of allowance must be made, for these various things will so alter matters, that no one can tell to a quart, or a pound of butter, or to the week in time of milking. In fact, every farmer knows neither the owner himself, nor his man, can tell to a quart how much his cow or cows actually give, unless a daily record is kept every day of every year. For even if he does keep such a record, he will find the various circumstances named above affecting the quantities in his record. Therefore the earnest seeker after truth, comparing the statements made in the two columns, must not expect the two to tally without some variations. The true spirit with which he must examine these statements, will suggest itself in the question: Is this a system by which I can judge of the value and quantities of a cow correctly? Is this a system that will tell me the points of a cow, good or bad, more correctly than by any other method? Let the candid inquirer weigh these statements, and think if he knows of any method by which he can go into a herd and surely pick out the best cows, and leave the poor ones to those who judge not by this system. Every farmer has his own mode of judging, but take the shrewdest and most practiced, can he avoid often the bastards? What the commission find they can do, is that in a large majority of the percentage of cases, they will give a good estimate of the qualities of any animal. Their opinions of the time a cow will go, is based upon what they think should be the treatment of all cows, viz.: that every cow should have a rest of from four to six weeks, at least.

The Commission at Barney’s Farm.

The members of the Guenon commission, visited the farm of John B. Barney, on the 9th of May, 1878, and examined twelve cows, mostly Grade Durhams, Grade Jerseys, and farm stock, and they were uniformly successful in judging of said stock, with some difference of opinion on two of them.

“I was present at the examination of twelve cows of my herd, and think the committee were so uniformly successful in judging of the merits of the different cows, with such slight variations of opinion between us, as to increase my belief in the Guenon system being of great advantage to the farmers in selecting stock.

JOHN B. BARNEY. _Chadd’s Ford, Chester county_.”

_May 16, 1878._

The Commission at Sharpless’ Farm.

The commission visited the fine farm and herd of Jersey cows of Samuel J. Sharpless, at Street Road station, West Chester railroad, May 10. Present. Messrs. Harvey, Blight, Hazard, and Thomas J. Edge.

SAM’L J. SHARPLESS’ HERD OF |SAM’L J. SHARPLESS’ HERD AS JERSEYS, AS REPORTED BY E. J. | REPORTED UPON BY GUENON DURNALL, HERDSMAN FOR S. J. S.,| COMMISSION OF THE STATE, MAY 10, 1878. | MAY 10, 1878. | _No. 1._—Seven years. |_No. 1._—Curveline cow, second order. Quantity, about 12 quarts | Quantity, if 14 quarts, doing well. a day. | Quality, medium. | Quality, good. Milks about 10 months. | Will milk ten months out of twelve. | _No. 2._—Thirteen years. |_No. 2._—Flanders cow, third order. Quantity, best. Gives 24 quarts| Quantity, 16 quarts first three 3 months after calving. | months. Quality, second rate. Has made | Quality, third rate. 11¼ pounds in a week. | Milks full up to time, except | Dry two months. when she had twin calves. | | _No. 3._—Eleven years. |_No. 3._—Flanders cow, third order. Quantity, medium. | Quantity, 12 quarts; three months. Quality, best. | Quality, very good and rich. Would go to her time. | Dry six weeks. | _No. 4._—Eight years. |_No. 4._—Flanders cow, second order. Quantity, medium. | Quantity, 14 quarts. Quality, good; makes about 10 | Quality, very fine. pounds. | Up to her time. | Well up to her time. | _No. 5._—Imported. Eleven years. |_No. 5._—Selvage cow, first order. Quantity, about 17 to 18 | Quantity, best; about 18 quarts. quarts a day. | Quality, best; makes 11 pounds | Quality, no question. per week. | Up to her time. | Milks up to her time. | _No. 6._—Ten years. |_No. 6._—Flanders cow, first order. Quantity, second rate. | Superior milker. Quality, medium. | Quality, second class. About two months short of her | Milks up to her time; say six weeks. time. | | _No. 7._—Two years old. Had only |_No. 7._—Curveline cow, second order. first calf. | Quantity, medium. | Quantity, medium. Quality, good. | Quality, too young for quality; say | good. Not fairly tested for time. | Time, too young for test. | _No. 8._—Four years. |_No. 8._—Selvage cow, second order. Quantity, medium. | Quantity, medium. Quality, first class. | Quality, good. Up to calving. | Up to her time; say six weeks. | _No. 9._—From Niobe Third. Three |_No. 9._—Flanders cow, second order. years. | Quantity, first rate. | Quantity, first class. Quality, first rate. | Quality, first class. Up to her time. | Well up to her time. | _No. 10._—Imported. Four years. |_No. 10._—Decided to pass her. Had first calf at Centennial,| in October, and made in seven| days, 9 pounds 10 ounces. | Quantity, about 16 quarts. | Quality, excellent. | Up to time. Has been milking | two years. | | _No. 11._—Ten years. |_No. 11._—Horizontal cow. Quantity, second highest of | Quantity, first-class. herd; best. | Quality, second class. Makes | Quality, inferior. about 10 pounds. | Full up to her time. | Milk up to eight months. | _No. 12._—Four years. |_No. 12._—Flanders cow, third order. Quantity, second rate. | Quantity, light. Quality, second rate; about 7 | Quality, third class. pounds. | Milks to three months of her | Three months short of her time. time. | | _No. 13._—Six years. |_No. 13._—Flanders cow, number two | order. Quantity, number one. | Quantity, second class. Quality, number one. | Quality, first class. Full up to time. | Up to her time. At seven months from calf | gives 16 quarts. | | _No. 14._—Five years. |_No. 14._—Flanders cow, first order. Quantity, promises fair. | Quantity, good. Quality, good. | Quality, fair. | Within a month of her time. | _No. 15._—Four years. Of Niobe |_No. 15._—Flanders cow, second order. stock, the poorest. | Quantity, third rate; 6 quarts.| Quantity, about 12 quarts. Quality, good; second rate. | Quality, not very fine. Up to her time. | Dropped her calf. | | _No. 16._—Quantity, number one. |_No. 16._—Selvage cow, first order. Quality, number one. | First class every way. Up to her time. | | _No. 17._—First calf. |_No. 17._—Flanders cow, second order. Quantity, number one. | Quantity and quality, fair. Quality, number one. |

The commission and Mr. Durnall agree as to the best cow, selected from the first six on this list—on the one side by the marks, and on the other from his knowledge.

“Having compared the annexed account of the qualities of the seventeen cows of my herd, examined by the State Guenon Commission, with the originals of the accounts as given by both parties at separate times, and taken down upon the spot, I believe it to be a true and faithful transcript of the original record of the examination.

SAMUEL J. SHARPLESS.”

PHILADELPHIA, _May 20, 1878_.

“I was present at the examination of Mr. Sharpless’ herd of Jerseys, made on the 10th of May by the State Guenon Commission, and having examined the accounts of the herd given by me, as hereto annexed, with the original entries of those given by me, and also the accounts of the commission, with the original written opinions, do certify that the annexed are faithful transcripts of the records made by each party at separate times, and that the statements were unknown to each other.

E. J. DURNALL, _Herdsman for Samuel J. Sharpless_.”

LENAPE FARM, _May 20, 1878_.

The Commission at Strode’s Farm.

The members of the Guenon Commission visited the dairy farm of Marshall Strode & Son, who have a large butter factory, and are celebrated for their first-class butter, and they examined seventeen head of grade dairy stock, and according to the testimony of Mr. Strode, who accompanied them in their examination, were successful in judging according to the Guenon system, fifteen cows out of seventeen examined. Viewed May 10.

Present, Messrs. Harvey, Blight, Hazard, and Edge.

“Having been present when the members of the Guenon Commission examined seventeen of our herd, and having witnessed the accuracy with which they determined the quality of the stock inspected, we bear testimony to the fact that their judgment was correct, according to our experience with the cows, in fifteen cases out of seventeen, and even in these two they were partially successful. And we are more confirmed in our previous belief in the value of the system, as we never buy a cow for a good one that is not well marked. We run a dairy of seventy-one cows.

Yours truly,

MARSHALL STRODE & SONS.”

EAST BRADFORD, _May 15, 1878_.

Examination of Thomas M. Harvey’s Stock of Jerseys and Guernseys, May 11, 1878.

In this examination two cows which had already been examined and reported upon by the commission were, without their knowledge, afterwards brought up for another examination, in which their opinion as recorded, agreed almost exactly with the one previously recorded, thus affording a strong proof of the value of the system. See reports of No. 1, Betsy, and Nos. 4 and 20, Beauty. (Secretary of Board of Agriculture.)

This herd is one of the finest in the State. The cows are kept in good condition, and being well fed, the yield is very large per head. Their product is first class butter, and should bring the highest price in the market.