Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

240 , CATTLE.
other substance naturally covering the sternum. One defect, but
not of half the consequence which it is generally supposed to be,
would then be avoided—the apparent diminution of the chest at its
bottom under the body at the girthing place, or immediately behind
the elbows under the body. Some have evidently considered
this to be an actual elevation of the floor of the chest, and a consequent
lessening of its capacity at this point ; and, on that account, a
most serious defect. There are few things which the breeders of
short-horns have labored more zealously, and generally more unsuccessfully,
to remedy. It is certainly a defect, because it evinces a
disposition to accumulate fat in a somewhat patchy manner ; but it
is not so bad as has been represented or feared. It indicates no elevation
of the sternum—no diminution of the capacity of the chest:
it is a rather too sudden termination of protuberance of the brisket,
either from the accumulation of the principal part of its substance
too forward, or from a want of disposition in the beast to fatten in
an equable way. If the brisket were removed, the bicast-bond
would be found to be gradually rounding, and rising from this spot,
and nbt let down lower between the elbows. It will be interesting
to compare the different forms of the brisket in the different Tweeds
of cattle. The bulls on pp. 96 and 238 will show how much variety
can exist in different animals of the same breed ; and those who
recollect the portrait of Mr. C. Colling's Comet, to whose brisket
few, perhaps, could at first reconcile themselves so far as beauty or
form was concerned, will be aware of greater variety still.*
When the observer now admires or wonders at the protuberant and
unwieldy briskets of these cattle, ie will recognize the use of the
joint in the first, or supplementary, bone of the sternum of oxen.
They could not walk with ease, and it would be scarcely possible for
them to turn at all, if it were not for the lateral motion which this
joint permits. The muscles most concerned in this action, and, indeed,
that constitute the bulk of the fleshy part of the brisket, are the
anterior portions of the external and internal sternocostal muscles,
(those which are concerned with the, sternum and the ribs,) and whose
action is to elevate the ribs, and so dilate the chest, and assist in
breathing.
THE RIBS.
The first rib on either side is a short, rather straight, and particu-
* It is to be observed that the views here expressed about short-horn briskets are
those of the breeders of rival races. All short-horn breeders hold it an important
point to have the brisket project in front, and drop as low and be as wide between the
legs, as possible. As short-horns are more and more spread over England, this their
wonderful peculiarity is more and more admired ; and the breeders of other races are
imitating it, as far as attainable in their breeds, and in one, the Herefords, it is, in
some high bred stocks, well advanced. It will suffice to say that short-horn breeders
do not admit that a large brisket indicates a tendency to fat unevenly ; but the contrary,
and do*m it an evidence of superior feeding capacity of an even kind. Am. Ed.
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