140 ON THE AYESHIKE BUEED OF CATTLE. 



The management of Ayrshires varies slightly in detail, owing 

 to circumstances, but, as a rule, the dairy cattle calve in March 

 and the beginning of April. During the time that the cows are 

 dry, they are fed in the byre, chiefly ou oat straw and turnips, 

 until about a month before calving, when their dietary is slightly 

 improved. After calving, they are fed upon hay with boiled 

 turnips and chaff, mixed together; or cut hay with bean-meal. 

 Many adopt the practice of boiling the turnips and chaff in the 

 same cauldron for several hours, and then adding a little bean or 

 pea meal. This makes a nourishing diet, and one which the cows 

 eat with avidity. The mixture is given twice a-day, as much 

 sweet hay as the cows will eat up clean being supplied at other 

 times between the morning and evening meals. Cattle so fed 

 produce large quantities of rich, well-flavoured milk. The follow- 

 ing is the mode of feeding adopted during a milking competition 

 of Ayrshire cows : — 



One bushel draff, mangold, bean-meal, oatmeal, and mangold 

 juice with oatmeal. Mangold boiled, and bean-meal. Cut gxass- 

 with 2 lbs. bean-meal, 1 lb. oatmeal, 1 lb. bran, and | lb. oilcake. 



Of course the above method of feeding is entirely extra, the 

 aim being to promote the secretion of milk as much as possible, 

 regardless of expense. 



When the pastures contain a nice bite, which in ordinary 

 seasons is about the 12th of May, the cows are liberated from 

 the b}Tes, and allowed to forage for themselves. In very hot 

 weather, they are kept in during the day, and supplied with cut 

 grass, being turned into the fields only at night. In moderately 

 cool weather, soiling is discontinued. During autumn, the cows 

 are partly fed upon second clover and partly upon turnips, the 

 latter being thrown upon the pastures. In October, the milch 

 cattle are housed at night, receiving straw morning and evening, 

 and turnips by day. Up to the 1st of December, when the 

 cows are put dry, they get hay and roots, — potatoes or tmiiips, — 

 after which their fare is reduced to straw and turnips. 



Comparatively few pure-bred Ayrshire steers are reared for 

 grazing, the male calves being usually sent to the butchers when 

 young. The heifer calves are supplied with millc for a period 

 varying from six to nine weeks, when they have sour milk or 

 gruel for another month. They are allowed to run upon an old- 

 laid pasture till the month of August, being then removed to the 

 hay-foggage to get them up in condition, as sudden thriving in 

 calves is said to encourage " Black Spaul." They thus retain 

 their calf- flesh, and remain in good condition during the winter,, 

 if liberally treated. 



They are again sent to the moors the second summer, and 

 brought home to good grass in the autumn. They are then six 

 cjuarters old. When taken up, the young cattle are allowed a 



