Herd Record of the Association of Breeders of Thorough-Bred Neat Stock Part 44

IN A

=NORTH DEVON BULL.=

Purity of blood indispensable; and traced back satisfactorily to importations of both sire and dam from known English breeders, or as found in the lately established Herd Book for North Devons.

Points.

ART. 1.--_Head_, should be rather elevated above the line of the back, short, broad and dis.h.i.+ng between the eyes, with full, firm frontal bone over them; muzzle fine with nostrils full and open. 4

ART. 2.--_Nose_, of a light delicate orange color. 5

ART. 3.--_Eye_, should be bright, prominent and clear; but gentle in expression, as indicative of that spirited docility so necessary to cattle that must bear the yoke; a beautiful orange colored ring should invariably surround the eye. 4

ART. 4.--_Ear_, thin, rather below medium size; of a rich orange color within, with a quick ready movement expressive of attention. 2

ART. 5.--_Horns_, light, tapering and round; gaily as well as symmetrically placed on the head, with an upward form. 2

ART. 6.--_Neck_, set on fine at the head, gently rising from the shoulder; full and muscular, an indication of strength and const.i.tution; the gullet clean and free from dewlap, full at its junction with the shoulder. 5

ART. 7.--_Chest_, deep and round, carrying its fullness well back of the elbows, thus affording abundant room for the full and free action of the heart and lungs, without extreme width forward, or protuberance of the shoulder points. 12

ART. 8.--_Brisket_, full and oval, setting the arms wide apart at their junction with the body, indicative of a good feeding quality. 4

ART. 9.--_Shoulder_, should take a somewhat sloping position, with its points less projecting, the blade blending with and forming a fine wither rising to a line with the back. 4

ART. 10.--_Crops_, full and even, forming a true line with the shoulder and level back. 3

ART. 11.--_Back_, loin, hips; broad, level and wide, the hip bones prominent but not pointed. 6

ART. 12.--_Rumps_, lying broad apart without slope or drop, full and well covered. 5

ART. 13.--_Twist_, full and broad in its seam, well down between the thighs. 3

ART. 14.--_Quarters_, long, and well filled between the hip bones and the rumps, showing a well turned finish; with a good muscular development extending to the hocks. 6

ART. 15.--_Flanks_, moderately deep, full and mellow according to condition. 3

ART. 16.--_Legs_, of moderate length standing square under the body, with sufficient angle at the gambrel joint to secure strength and activity, the toes pointing straight to the forward feet; the bone fine and flat below the hock, sinews large and clear; the forearm well developed; the bone below the knee quite small, coming nearer together as they approach the ground; hoofs, black and broad. 5

ART. 17.--_Tail_, set on round and full, on a level with the back, without loose, flabby skin underneath; tapering gradually to the end, which is invariably furnished with a ta.s.sel of white hair. 2

ART. 18.--_Carca.s.s_ or _Barrel_, round, straight on the back and belly, its posterior ribs extending well back, and springing nearly horizontal with the back bone. Medium size being preferable for stock breeding in the Devon. 3

ART. 19.--_Color_, always red, but admits of different shades, the medium red are considered as combining the largest amount of valuable qualities. The very dark red being less thrifty, and generally hard handlers; while the very light red, with a thin papery skin are less hardy in a cold climate. 1

ART. 20.--_Hair_, should be soft, thick and fine, and not much curly. 2

ART. 21.--_Carriage_, this is an important quality in the Devon, as he is destined for the yoke, as well as for the butcher. He should shew by his sprightly active movements, and graceful gait, that he is fitted for his proper place. 4

ART. 22.--_Quality_, on the thriftiness, the feeding properties, the value of the animal depends: and upon the _touch_ or handling qualities, rests in a great measure the graziers and butchers'

judgment. If the handling be good, some deficiency in minor qualities may be excused; but if it be hard and stiff, nothing can compensate for so unpromising a feature. In raising the skin from the body between the thumb and finger, it should present a soft, flexible and substantial feel, and pressed by the out spread hand it should move easily with and under it, as if resting on a soft, elastic, cellular substance, which becomes firmer as the animal ripens. 15 --- Perfection. 100

POINTS OF EXCELLENCE

IN A

DEVON COW.

Purity of blood indispensable.

Points.

ART. 1.--_Head_, should be lean and bony; forehead wide and somewhat dis.h.i.+ng between the eyes; face straight but not long. 2

ART. 2.--_Nose_, of a light orange color; a black or mottled nose should be rejected. 3

ART. 3.--_Eye_, should be bright, prominent and clear, surrounded by a bright orange colored ring. 3

ART. 4.--_Ear_, thin, rather below medium size, orange color within, with a quick movement, expressive of attention. 2

ART. 5.--_Horns_, light, tapering, of a waxy color, somewhat long and spreading gaily towards the tips. 2

ART. 6.--_Neck_, clean in the throat, fine at the junction with the head, and full at the shoulder. 2

ART. 7.--_Chest_, deep and round, carrying its fulness well back of the elbows, thus affording abundant internal room for the action of the heart and lungs. 6

ART. 8.--_Brisket_, full and round, spreading the fore legs well at the junction with the body; not projecting, but forming a regular slant, without dewlap, to the throat. 4

ART. 9.--_Shoulder_, in this breed is a beautiful and important point, and should in a degree approximate to that of the horse; with points less prominent and in a more sloping position than in most other breeds, indicative of activity and good traveling quality. 5

ART. 10.--_Crops_, full and even, forming a line with the shoulder and back, extending well down the shoulder blade so as to prevent a cavity between the shoulder and the barrel. 5

ART. 11.--_Back_, full, loin broad, with the short bones extending full to the hoop ribs; hip bones wide and on a level with the sacrum, and setting on of the tail. 8

ART. 12.--_Rumps_, broad, full, and well covered. 3

ART. 13.--_Escutcheon_, this should be broad, maintaining an even breadth from the udder to the sacrum. 8

ART. 14.--_Quarters_, long, and well filled between the hip bones and the rumps, with a good muscular development at a regular slant to the hocks. 6

A pork ham objectionable.

ART. 15.--_Flanks_, moderately deep, full and mellow in proportion to condition. 4

ART. 16.--_Legs_, fore legs of medium length, spread wide at the brisket, straight, with well developed, round, muscular arm, firmly knit at the knee, fine shank bone with large sinews, drawing nearer together as they approach the feet; hind legs with a gradual taper from the patella to the gambrel joint, which should be wide, leg below, fine and flat, with large sinews, forming an angle of thirty-three degrees, and moving in a straight line with the fore legs. 5