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.

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.

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

INDEX.

Page
Animals, domestic, reared in the U. States[9]
their number and value[9]
their improvement[10]
adaptation to various objects[10]
general form and characteristics[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]
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—warblesor 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]
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[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]
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[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[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]

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.