THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



m 



SUMMER GRAZING — THE GRAZING OF CATTLE. 



A too frequent recurrence to the same subject needs 

 every apology from stated writers ; but the importance 

 of the above subject to graziers, and the rapid increase 

 of the numbers who read the Mark Lane Express, is a 

 sufficient reason for again introducing the subject. I am 

 not, however, about to write anything expressly new, or 

 perhaps of much value to the experienced grazier ; but 

 amongst the many readers of the above paper, there are 

 young readers who would lil?e to " gain a wrinkle " 

 from an old grazier, or to be reminded of some common 

 things which may have escaped their present observa- 

 tion. It is for these I write a few remarks upon sum- 

 mer grazing in these papers. Ist, cattle ; 2ad, sheep ; 

 3rd, horses, &c., &c. 



The grazing of cattle, the fatting of cattle, the lands 

 adapted for the profitable fatting of cattle must be of 

 first class order. No inferior grass-land will do it, 

 unless aided by a very liberal allowance of linseed-cake 

 or other fattening food ; nevertheless, we have good 

 grass lands of varied quality and power. The most 

 powerful will fatten an ox of 100 stones weight without 

 such aids; and others of such sweet and nutritive 

 herbage on inferior soils as will fatten a Scot or a Devon 

 admirably. What I mean is, that the grazier must 

 adapt his cattle to his land, or make up for either de- 

 ficiency in artificial aids as food. No grazier should, 

 however, attempt to fatten cattle on land not suited for 

 Buch purpose ; and this is soon generally known by the 

 experience of every occupier, and on every occupation ; 

 and new tenants often injure themselves by not taking 

 timely advice on this point. The best bullock-lands : 

 These are usually grazed by superior cattle, and I take 

 it for granted that the general testimony and practice 

 on such lands is correct, and in the average of years 

 the most profitable. One thing I know, the 

 occupiers of these beautiful lands are almost 

 invariably to a man proud of them, and proud to see 

 grazing upon them such splendid animals. This is one 

 of the pleasures and gratifications of business. What 

 grazier does not enjoy, intensely enjoy his evening stroll 

 amongst a herd of first-class animals, all progressing fa- 

 vourably; and may he not justly exult a little now and 

 then in the pi-ospect of showing them at his favourite 

 fair, and to his old round of friends and customers ? I 

 confess to such occasional pride, and I approve it. It 

 gives stimulus to exertion, to care, to selection, to ma- 

 nagement in all its phases. This is all right ; but there 

 is another view to be taken as to the most profitable graz- 

 ing of such lands. It is not that every grazier possesses a 

 long purse, and is able to buy such ornaments to his 

 field. What must the poor grazier do ? I have seen 

 some of the most powerful bullock lands grazed by very 

 inferior cattle — aged cows, bull-legs, worked oxen, 

 coarse steers ; in fact, such a class of animals as only 

 such land " could move," and which was well known to 



the occupiers : these animals often come in at little cost, 

 and pay handsomely. I once saw a large and beautiful 

 field of first-class land grazed by aged cows and a few 

 coarse animals which would not average above some six 

 or seven pounds each ; the profit was, I understood, very 

 great. The care requisite in such a case is to obtain 

 such animals as will bear a profit under such strong 

 succulent herbage. If the animal is weak in body or 

 constitution, it is certain to go wrong. It is, therefore, 

 manifest that first-class land need not of necessity be 

 grazed by first-class animals ; but it is necessary that 

 every animal grazed on such lands must possess a good 

 constitution and aptitude to fatten and improve. 



To graze profitably, the grazier must first take care to 

 provide a good pasture. This he will do by " laying in" 

 his fields early, so that he may commence stocking early. 

 His next care will be to put in his stock in suitable 

 weather, and in number proportioned to his keeping. 

 He must not in any case overstock ; if he does, in all 

 probability he will lose his season. His stock must 

 have a sufficiency of grass, but not more, or it will grow 

 coarse and unpalatable, and the stock are thus 

 confined to those sweet spots on which they de- 

 light to brouse, often very bare and insufficient 

 for their profitable advancement. Should such be the 

 case, it is but to mow down gradually and daily every 

 rough spot, and leave enough for every day's consump- 

 tion. Cattle are very fond of partially-withered grass. 

 There is great difficulty on this point in grazing lands 

 subject to burning in hot weather : such lands " require 

 a covering" ; but I cannot think they require such a 

 covering as is sometimes, nay often, seen. I have seen 

 some of those beautiful Herefordshire lands having pas- 

 tures which, while carrying their usual quantity of stock, 

 would, I think, yield at the same time a ton or more of 

 hay per acre, positively "up to the knees in grass." In 

 Leicestershire I have seen the like ; yes, and in many 

 other counties too. Now, if this could with safety be 

 prevented, I doubt not but the grazing would be more 

 profitable. To fatten cattle most speedily and advan- 

 tageously, the grass requires to be ever new, and always 

 in plenty. A bullock-pasture — i. e., not too young ; 



j that would cause looseness or scouring ; but a good bite of 

 strong-grown grass, but not old — just in accordance 



I with the old adage, "twelve days old for a bullock." 

 To ensure this, it is often attempted to graze two fields 



, alternately : that is, to lay one in for three or four weeks, 

 while the other is being grazed, and then to bring back 



I the stock as soon as ready. But this plan is objection- 



i able, as requiring a double number of stock for the time 

 being, which tread down a large quantity of most excel- 

 lent herbage. The better course is to " get off" the 

 forward animals to market, lay in one field, and well 

 dress it over ; i. e., knock the droppings and cut up the 

 tussocks or rough places, that all the grass may be 



