All interruptions in the ascending hair of the escutcheon by
encroachments of the descending hair on the right or left, in the lower
part of the thigh, indicate for their get a lower grade, and at a glance
the inferiority of the milk production.
The yellow or nankeen color of the skin of the escutcheon is always a
favorable sign.
The good reproducing bull will prove fecund until ten or fifteen years of
age, but it is a rare exception.
Any one may be grossly deceived if he judges only by the appearance or
the shape of the prolific qualities of a bull. Experience or observation
alone can show that he has maintained his early ability.
A vigorous bull, well fed, can serve one or more cows each day, but it
is of great importance that he shall not commence to serve until he is
fifteen or eighteen months old, otherwise he will be speedily exhausted
and deformed. The improving mark of his cross and his vigor will be
speedily shortened.
When the bull has attained the age of two and a half or three years,
the form alters, the hind-quarters become attenuated, the front quarter
becomes much enlarged, his neck enlarges and thickens, &c.
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: