156 ON THE WEST HIGHLAND BREED OF CATTLE. 



on behalf of bis brotber John J. Dalgleisb, Esq., and himself, the 

 details of which will doubtless be found interesting. He says : — 

 " We always, if possible, purchase privately, and not in a market, 

 to save the risk of disease, though occasionally we have to pur- 

 chase at Falkirk or Doune markets in October and November. 

 The number wintered and fed off upon grass in each year varies 

 from 150 to 200, and consists entirely of three or four-year old 

 bullocks, costing from L.12 to L.14 for three-year olds, and from 

 L.17 to L.18 for four-year olds. We never purchase heifers, as 

 they do not come out with us the same as bullocks, while there 

 is considerable risk of their turning out in calf. For nine years, 

 we have purchased in one lot, and all from the same party, 100 

 four-year old bullocks, and in order to show the rise in price 

 since we first got this lot, I may mention that in 1864 we paid 

 L.12, 15s. per head; last year (1872), L.17, 15s. per head for 100; 

 and this year (1873), the price for 140 was L.17. Such a prime 

 lot is rarely to be got, and we pay more than actual value to 

 secure it. 



" Our system of management is : — We get the cattle home about 

 the middle or end of October each year, and put them upon the 

 pastures which have been grazed previously and left rough on 

 purpose, allowing them to remain there until the 1st of March, 

 when they are confined to one or two parks. Up to the date 

 just named, the greater part of these cattle get no hay nor other 

 feeding substance save what the pastures produce, except during 

 a storm. 



" On the 1st of January about 60 of the best, however, are 

 selected, and are allowed a little hay daily, with 1^ to 2 lbs. of 

 undecorticated cotton cake. From the 1st of March the whole 

 of the herd get a full allowance of hay, and part of them cotton 

 cake as before, until the 1st of May. Soon after this date the 

 cattle are drawn or lotted for each park, the lots varying from 

 thirty downwards, according to the size and richness of the 

 pasture. There the cattle remain undisturbed or unchanged 

 until the 1st of September. No dogs are allowed with the 

 herdsmen, so that the cattle are as quiet as possible. 



'■ After the cattle have been lotted for each park we generally 

 give about 40 of the best of them an allowance of 2 lbs. of cotton 

 cake up to July 15th, and then give these, and about 30 more, 

 3 to 4 lbs. of mixed cotton cake, linseed cake, and sometimes, for 

 about one month before selling them, 5 lbs. of mixed cotton 

 cake, linseed cake, and bean meal, in equal proportions. We 

 occasionally give a much larger number of the cattle cake on 

 the grass both in winter and summer, but this depends entirely 

 upon the seasons, wbether the cattle be lean or otherwise, and 

 the pastures good or comparatively bare. We use nothing but 

 undecorticated cotton cake, and the best home-made linseed 



