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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



subject, but anything that ha3 a tendency to produce disease 

 iu cattle has also a tendency to raise the price. Another 

 cause of the high price of cattle is the very imperfect manner 

 in which too many of them are now fed. We give a very 

 high price for what may be termed the raw material, and then 

 waste a large portion of it. It is, in my opinion, a positive 

 waste to send thousatida of young beasts annually to be 

 slaughtered that are barely in a half-fat state. This, however, 

 is commonly done in the autumn of each year. These beasts 

 are now grazed at so early an age that common pasturage 

 alone does little more than support their growth ; they are 

 consequently unfit for the fat-atock markets, and ought to be 

 sent, if sold they must be, to the markets for store cattle. 

 Thousands of them having attained maturity, would make 

 really fair good beasts if kept another year, and are worth much 

 more to keep than to sell. In order to get an opinion on 

 which reliance can be placed as to thia poiut, I wrote to Mr. 

 William Collins, who, as most of you are aware, is a cattle- 

 ealesman of great experience in the metropolitan markets, 

 asking him what, according to his judgment, would be the in- 

 creased weight of the cattle seat to market during the grass 

 aeaaon, provided those aeut were really aud fairly in a fit state 

 for slaughtering. His reply i?, that they would, with only a 

 little additional feeding, weigh, on an average, ten stones per 

 head more than they do now. He estimates the average 

 weight of those sent to market from the 1st of July to the 

 end of November at eighty-two atones, of Slbs. to the stone. 

 The increase, therefore, of only ten stones each would give a 

 large additional percentage to our present supplies. He states 

 that other salesmen, whose opinions he asked, estimate the 

 grass-fed beasts for the above period at only seventy-six stones. 

 From the above evidence it is quite clear that a very large 

 portion of the cattle at present sent to market are very in- 

 sufficiently fed ; and we have now to consider in what way 

 the defect can be remedied. I have already hinted that 

 it is by the use of cake, and other artificial food, in 

 conjunction with summer grazing, that we must look for a 

 greater supply of reiUy well-fed beasts, and the gradual, but 

 permanent enrichment of our pajture lands. I am rather diffi- 

 dent in recommending its extensive use, knowing that cautious 

 men v;ill be slow to adopt it. There are many who will use 

 both artificial food and manure to any reasonable extent 

 on arable land, when it is immediately available, and can soon 

 be exhausted, who will be rather shy in using either on per- 

 manent pasture ; which, when once enriched by the tenant, 

 remains for the future benefit of the landlord. But, if we can 

 adopt this system with profit to ourselves, it will be a very 

 foolish and selfish policy to abstain from its use, because we are 

 increasing the value of our landlord's freehold. That there 

 are some wanting in means and principle, or deficient in both, 

 who would be ready to take advantage of a tenant's capital 

 so expended, is probably true ; but such cases are, happily, the 

 exceptions, and not the rule. The great majority of landlords 

 are sufficiently men of business to see how much it is to their 

 interest to deal liberally by and encourage improving tenants, 

 and are gentlemen of too high principle to take advantage of 

 confidence reposed in them. But before cake or meal can be 

 extensively used on pasture land, proper accommodation must 

 be provided, and arrangements made for the purpose. Among 

 other things, the large fields must be divided, for it would be 

 impossible to give either to a great number of beasts in one 

 field ; for before the whole could be given out, the first por- 

 tions would be eaten, and the master beasts would then dis- 

 turb the weaker ones, and rob them of their fair share of the 

 food. The consequences would necessarily be, that some 

 would get too much, and others none. I consider there should 



not be more than fifteen beasts together, but certainly twenty 

 ought not to be exceeded. Indeed, the smaller the lots, the 

 better they will do. Moreover, on moderately small fields, 

 irrespective of artificial food, a higher per-centsge of 

 cattle can be grazed, and consequently more meat can 

 be produced per acre. This is owing to the circum- 

 stance, that in small fields the land is of a more uni- 

 form character, and grazes evenly ; whereas, in large ones, 

 some parts are eaten closely, while others get coarse. Cake 

 can be given in small boxes set about the grass, giving a box 

 to each beast. Some persons think boxes unnecessary, aud 

 give it on the ground ; but I cannot but think that some of 

 it must be wasted, and prefer to use boxes. If given on the 

 ground, it should not be broken too small, and the 

 dust should be screened out of it, and given to sheep. 

 Mr. Hudson, of Castle Acre, informs me that he gave it in 

 this way, and that by throwing it on the roughest parts of 

 the pastures, the cattle eat up the coarse grass very barely, in 

 consequence of the particles of cake which adhered to it. 

 There is this great advantage in this plan, that it can be 

 adopted at any time, and almost under any circumstances. 

 But to carry out the system in the most efficient manner, 

 there should be hovels in the fields, suitable for the accommo- 

 dation of the number of beasts they will graze. I am quite 

 of opinion that hovels are quite as much needed for 

 shade in summer, as they are for shelter in winter. 

 We all know how much cattle often sink in hot weather in 

 consequence of racing about the fields when gadding. If 

 they were tied up in sheds during that time, and fed with a 

 portion of either cake or meal, and a small quantity of either 

 good hay or chaff given to them, this waste would not only 

 be prevented, but they v/ould be rapidly gaining flesh. I am 

 of opinion that under no circumstances can cake, meal, or 

 hay be given with greater benefit than those I have described. 

 As to the most suitable sheds, I am of opinion that those 

 with low-slated roofs are the most costly, and also the worst. 

 They are intensely hot in summer, and cold in winter, two 

 faults most desirable to avoid. I should greatly prefer to 

 have them either well-coated with thatch, or covered with 

 thorn or gorse faggots, and sufficiently thatched to keep 

 the wood dry. Good wide mangers are necessary in 

 order that they may be used for either cake or hay. 

 With respect to the number of beasts that indi- 

 viduals should have at artificial food at one time, 

 that of course will depend upon the extent of their occupa- 

 tion, and other circumstances. One of the main objects 

 gained would be the equalization of the supplies. Now, at 

 the close of the Norfolk season, there are but few grass-fed 

 beasts ready for market, and beef is very scarce ; whereas in 

 October and November many more beasts are sent for sale 

 than there is a demand for ; and many are sold very badly, 

 and pay little or nothing for grazing. If, however, a portion 

 were got into a forward state during the winter, and were 

 kept improving, in the way I have described, they would be 

 ready for market when wanted. As they are sent away, 

 others that are in the most forward state should take their 

 places ; and these, when ready, should go, to make room for 

 others. By this arrangement, no one lot of beasts would be 

 at expensive food so long as to cause too great an outlay upon 

 them. This part of the feeding process should not exceed 

 six, or at most eight weeks ; and that, with beasts sufficiently 

 advanced, would be ample to finish them. I would by no 

 means recommend its adoption with respect to lean cattle. 

 That can only be productive of loss. As to whether cake or 

 barley, bean, or other meal is most suitable, in conjunction 

 with grass, will depend upon their relatiye values, and also 



