Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

152 CATTLE.
THE FRONTALS IN P0LL3D CUTTLE.
The frontal bones hold the same situation in polled cattle. They
reach from the nasal bones to the parietal ridge ; but they materi-
ally diminish in breadth towards the poll. The breeders of polled
cattle consider this a proof of pureness of blood, and of the pos-
session of a disposition to fatten.
Large cavities between the plates of the frontal bone are found in
the polled as well as in the horned breed ; but they are not so
deep, nor do they extend beyond the frontals, varying much in the
different breeds of cattle.
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE HORNED AND HORNLESS BREEDS.
There was a time when this question was much discussed. It
was taken for granted, by those who had more theory than practi-
cal experience, that . the horns were not only useless but a serious
evil; and a scientific surgeon has scrupled not to 'say, that, "on a
very moderate calculation, the loss in farming stock, and also in
animal food, is very considerable from the production of horns and
their appendages." The fact, however, has never been thoroughly
determined, whether the Galloway, or the Kyloe, is the most profita-
ble grazing stock; each has its advocates, and each is excellent.
But it has been determined, that during the reign of the Bakewellian
stock, no cattle displayed such a propensity to fatten as the
long-horns ;
and as the chest became deeper and more circular, and
the aptitude to fatten developed itself, the horn lengthened. It has
also been determined, that for grazing and milking properties, and
particularly for early maturity, no cattle can vie with the short-horns.
The existence of horns, or the length of the horn, have in themselves
no connection at all with grazing, or with milking : a beast
does not fatten the quicker because there are no horns to consume a
portion of the nutriment, nor is he longer in getting into condition
because he has them. They are ornamental ; they cost the breeder
nothing ; they are useful for various purposes'; and they bring so
much clear gain to the manufacturer. The hornless cattle may,
however, be packed closer than the others, and, destitute of the
natural weapon of offence, are less quarrelsome and more docile.
THE OTHER BONES OF THE SKULL.
We shall be very brief in our iccount of the other bones of the
skull,,as little of a practical nature is connected with them.
The Parietal bone.—In the ox (h, p. 143,) not the smallest portion
of it appears on the superior part of the head ; but it is found at
the back of it, usurping the place of the occipital bone, giving
attachment to the muscles of the neck, and particularly to its strong
supporting ligament (m, p. 143). It, however, spreads along the
side below the horn, giving it some support ; and it unites there