Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/421

BUL former. When they are sixteen months old, the next milk-teeth likewise fall out, and at the com- mencement of the fourth year, all the fore-teeth are renewed. The bull, cow, and ox, naturally live from fifteen to twenty years ; but are generally killed at an earlier age. — See also Cow, and Ox. These animals are extremely fond of licking themselves, espe- cially when lying at rest ; but this practice should, as much as possi- ble, be prevented, for the hair be- ing an indigestible substance, re- mains in the stomach, where it becomes coated with glutinous matter, which in time forms hard balls, and not unfrequently proves destructive. We conceive that small quantities of common salt, or preferably, rock-salt, occasionally exposed to cattle for licking it, would not only preserve their health, in general, but also tend to obviate, the effecf s of the unwhole- some practice before alluded to. Dr. Lysons, of Bath, informs us, inhis "Practical Essays" 1772, that the epilepsy in bulls, is sometimes occasioned by hydatids (little trans- parent bladders filled with water), or other matters immediately act- ing upon the brain ; and he reiates an instance where this formidable disease was cured by the opera- tion of trepanning, performed by Mr. Cheston, a very ingenious surgeon, at Gloucester. BULLOCKS, in this country, are most advantageously fattened by stall-feeding ; a method now brought to systematic perfection. The following is the result of experience, inserted in the eleventh volume of the " Annals of Apri- culture, ' as communicated by J. H. Campbell, Esq. of Charlton, in Kent 5 who iis one of the most BUL [3S9 judicious and successful graziers in the kingdom. He first remarks, that the quantity of food required to fatten an animal, depends entire- ly on the thriving disposition, and not in the least On his weight; and then gives the following an- swers to Mr. Young's queries : 1. One hundred bushels of pota- toes, and seven hundred weight of hay, are generally sufficient to fat- ten any ox that is a tolerable good thriver. 2. Small quantities of potatoes should be given at first j then increased to one or two bushels per day, but always in- termixing the dry food, and' regu- lating the quantity of hay, by the efteft which potatoes produce on the bowels. There ought to be at least five servings in a day, and ac- cording to the quantity an ox can be induced to eat with appetite, he will the sooner become fat, conse- quently the cheaper, and with more profit. The roots need not be cut, excepf in the beginning, to entice the animal to eat them ; but they should always be fresh and clean. 3. There is no corn or meal necessary, unless it can be had at a moderate price ; in which case it would tend to expedite, and consequently to render more pro- fitable the whole of the feeding. Of this nature are brewer's grains, one bushel mixed with a peck of pollard, sometimes pea or bean- meal coarsely ground, given in two divided portions. 4. Cleanliness is a principal requisite in the feeding of cattle : hence not only the man- gers, but also the stalls, ought to be kept as clean as possible 5 and the former should be cleared from dirt and dust, with a blunt-pointed trowel, every morning. After cleansing their stalls, a sufficient quantity of fre=h litter should be C c 3 strewed