practical animal husbandry

706 Pages·2013·16.97 MB·English

PRACTICAL ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
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PRACTICAL
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
BY
WILLIAM C. MILLER, M.R.C.V.S., F.R.S.E.
DIRECTOR, EQUI~E RESEAI{CH STATION. ANIMAL HEALTH TRUST
NItWMARKBT. LATE COURTAULO PROFESSOR OF' AN1MAL
HUSBANDRY, ROYAL VETERJNARY COLLEGE, LONDON
AND
THE LATE MAJOR E. D. S. ROBERTSON,
M.R.C.V.S.
INDIAN ARMY (RETIRED); LATE LECTURER ON ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, ROYAL
(DICK) VETERINARY COLLEGE; LATE LECTURER ON VE1ERINARY
HYGUtNE. EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
SEVENTH EDITIO't>;-REVISED AND ENLARGED
OLIVER AND BOYD
EDINBURGH: TWEEDDALE COURT
LONDON: 39A WELBECK STREET, \V.I
1959
COPDIGHT © 1959 w. C. MILl.IIR
pRINTED AND PUBLISHBD IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
OLIVER AND BOYD LTD., BDINBURGH
PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION
THE increasing importance of domesticated animals in agri~
culture and in human sporting, domestic or social activities has
determined the need for a revisal of this book. The emphasis
upon essentially practical husbandry has been maintained,
since each new generation must learn afresh the practical
details of the handling and management of animals.
The essential purpose of the book is to guide and aid
veterinary or agricultural students, in learning practical
methods of controlling, handling and management of each of
the more common species of animals kept by man. Practising
veterinary surgeons, farmers and other animal owners should
find useful information on aspects with which they may not
be entirely familiar. Accepted traditional methods which
have stood the tests of time are described, and some of the
newer systems of husbandry which have been introduced in
recent years are briefly discussed, even though some of these
are not yet fully accepted or widely practised.
It has been thought advisable to retain considerable practical
detail concerning the management of horses, since in spite of
the continuing reduction in the number of horses used for
traction in agriculture, the general public shows a more lively
interest in equine and equestrian matters than in former
years, and not inconsiderable numbers of horses of different
types are owned and maintained privately by those who often
need help and guidance.
An effort has been made to include a consideration of
modern principles of the husbandry and management of
household pets, dogs and cats, of the humble but important
rabbit, and of the more important of the fur~bearing animals,
in addition to the essentially farm animals and poultry.
Grateful acknowledgement is made for assistance obtained
from various members of the staffs of the Ministry Of Agri~
culture, Food and Fisheries, the Scottish Department of
Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland,
'f
vi PREFACE
the Milk Marketing Board, Messrs Weatherbys, the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Kennel Club. To a
number of individuals including, in addition to those mentioned
in the text, Mr H. T. Mathews, B.SC., F.R.C.V.S., who has given
much helpful advice on a number of matters, to Miss D. Quinn,
who drew a number of the diagrams, and to Miss A. Simpson,
who has carried out most of the typing, my sincere thanks are
offered.
I also wish to acknowledge the assistance rendered by the
Directors and Staff of the Publishers, who have exercised their
usual patience and forbearance in the preparation of this
edition.
WM. C. MILLER
Newmarket, 1959
CONTENTS
rAGH
PREFACE v
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY 5
MANIPULATION AND RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS 8
ApPROACHING AND HANDLING ANIMALS
Horses Taking a horse out of a stable. To lead a horse into a
stable. Approaching horses in the open. To halter a horse.
To make a halter. Improvising a halter .... 9
Cattle. Bull·holders. Bull leaders. Bull mask. To make a cow
rise. To" put a cow over." To secure a calf for castration 13
Sheep. To catch a sheep. To hold a sheep. To turn a sheep up.
To hold a lamb for castratIOn 19
pzgs Pig catchers. PIg tongs. To hold a young pig for castration.
Barton's pig tether 20
Dogs. Dog catcher. Tape muzzles FInger protector To hold a
small dog for examInation. Ehzabethan collar 23
Cats. To secure. Cat box
MANIPULATING THE FEET OF HORSES
Securing a fore leg. Securing a hind leg. Stocks. StraIght jacket.
Simple side line. Army side line Gatacre's method. Service
hobbles. Shngs for horses and cattle... 29
MANIPULATING THE FEET OF CATTLE
Fore legs. Hind legs Operations on the feet. Control of kIcking.
Udder kinch. Anti.kicking devices ... 40
SHEEP
Portable sheep stocks. Sheep tables 4S
FASTENING ANIMALS IN BUILDINGS
Horses. Head collars. Halters. Neck rope,. Neck straps. Stall
rings. Pillar nngs. Knots for tying up horses .. , ' 4
Cattle. Yokes. Centre tie chains. Neck chains
Dogs.
vii
viii CONTENTS
PAGE
MANIPULATION AND RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS-contmued
TWITCHES
Loop twitch. Galvagne's tWitch. Bull·dog twitch. Humane twitch.
Pratt's tWitch. Screwnose twitch. Fletcher's nose twitch ... 50
GAGS
Horses. Varnell's. Hitching's. Bayer's. Haussmann:s. Butler's 55
Cattle. Drinkwater's. Probang 58
.Dogs. Spnng. Varnell's. Gray's 60
Sheep. Linton's 6I
MUZZLES
Horses. Leather box. Wire 6z
Cattle. Muzzle for cattle 6z
.Dogs. Tape. Wire. Leather. Ferret 62
BULL RINGS AND OTHER ApPLIANCES
Pig rings. Bull horn strap and cham. Cradles. Sword sticks 63
EMERGENCY MANIPULATIONS
Raising a fallen horse with rope, block and tackle. Raising a fallen
horse with two farm carts. To recover a bogged horse or ox. Separating
fighting dogs. Disentangling and releasing animals from barbed wire ... 69
CASTING ANIMALS AS A METHOD OF RESTRAINT
Choice and preparation of site. Precautions before casting. Use of
narcotic agents. Hobbles. Danish. Hitching's. Casting by side lines.
London method. Canadian method. Parker's method. Stuttgart
method. Single rope m·ethod. To cast for cryptorchidectomy. Casting
cattle. Reuff's method. Abildgaard's method. Casting pigs... 79
~TES ON METHODS OF EXAMINING FOR SOUNDNESS
ExaminatlOn of horses. Examination of cattle. Examination of other
parts. Measuring a horse ... 105
TEMPERATURE, PULSE AND RESPIRATION
Definition. Signs of health. Horses. Cattle. Sheep. Pigs. Dogs ... 1I6
STABLE AND OTHER VICES
Kicking. Biting. Weaving. Crib·biting. Wind·sucking. Sleeping
while standing. Gnawing or licking the walls. Throwing food out of the
manger. Tearing clothing. Eating dung (coprophagia). Eating bed·
ding. Rearing. Shying. Jibbing in harness u6