Robert Jennings explores the complete lifecycle, management, and medical care of domestic cattle, offering a foundational guide for agriculturists and stock-raisers. The volume begins with an exhaustive historical overview of British and American cattle breeds, detailing characteristics of the Ayrshire, Jersey, Short-Horns, Dutch, Hereford, and North Devon varieties. The text then transitions into structural anatomy, explaining gestation periods, dental development for aging cattle, and the identification of physical points that indicate superior constitution and milking capabilities.
Subsequent sections examine the physiological laws of breeding, inheritance, and variation. Jennings emphasizes the importance of selecting healthy stock, maintaining proper nutrition, and avoiding close in-and-in breeding except for specific developmental goals. Practical feeding methods are outlined to maximize milk production or beef yield, detailing the economic benefits of soiling, root crop cultivation, and proper barn management.
The final and most extensive section catalogs common bovine diseases, detailing symptoms and remedies for ailments such as pleuro-pneumonia, abortion, apoplexy, black-water, and murrain. Surgical procedures like castration and spaying are also addressed, alongside a comprehensive list of medicinal dosages. Jennings maintains a pragmatic, observational approach throughout, relying on direct veterinary experience rather than unproven theories to ensure the health and productivity of farm stock.
