that, among other things, I mentioned a custom we had of castrating Houyhnhnms when they were young, in order to render them tame; that the operation was easy and safe; that it was no shame to learn wisdom from brutes, as industry is taught by the ant, and building by the swallow (for so I translate the word lyhannh, although it be a much larger fowl); that this invention might be practised upon the younger Yahoos here, which besides rendering them tractable and fitter for use, would in an age put an end to the whole species, without destroying life; that in the mean time the Houyhnhnms should be exhorted to cultivate the breed of asses, which, as they are in all respects more valuable brutes, so they have this advantage, to be fit for service at five years old, which the others are not till twelve."
beste gauza batzuen artean, houyhnhnmak, gazteak ziren bitartean, irentzeko genuen ohitura aipatu nuela, otzanago bihurtzeko egiten omen zelarik; ebaketa erraza eta arriskugabea zela; ez dela lotsagarria animaliengandik jakinduria ikastea, lan-zaletasuna inurriak irakasten baitu eta eraikuntza enarak (horrela itzultzen dut lyhannh hitza, nahiz eta askoz hegazti handiagoa izan). Asmakizun hau bertako yahoo gazteenekin erabil zitekeela, eta honela, atsegingarri eta lanerako egokiago bihurtzeaz gain, mende baten buruan espezie osoa desagertuko zela, inor akabatu gabe. Bitartean, asto-hazkuntzara dedikatzeko aholkatu behar litzaiekeela houyhnhnmei, alde guztietatik abere baliotsuagoak izateaz gain, bai baitute abantaila hau ere, hots, bost urterekin egokiak direla lanerako, eta besteak hamabira arte ez.