1^18] ANIMAL PEODUCTION". 773 



of feeders, and seeks to bring out the methods of producing good commercial 

 cattle rather than pure-bred breeding stock. In the former case the animals 

 must be grown on the minimum amount of economical feeds and must recoup 

 from a narrow range of prices compared witli the possibilities of breeding 

 cattle. 



The natural system. — Where there is a scarcity of housing but sheltered 

 fields and second- or third-rate grass, animals may be kept out all winter living 

 on what they gather, supplemented with a little second-rate hay or a few 

 turnips fed on the grass. Cattle that lend themselves to this method of winter- 

 ing are Galloway and West Highland breeds. The slowness in maturity of 

 their offspring may be somewhat overcome by breeding them to the Shorthorn, 

 this breed having proved from experience best for using on these hardy out- 

 wintered cows. 



The best calving time for these cows is early in April. The animals should 

 be tied up for a week or two at this time so that they may be better attended 

 to and gentled. The calves should be weaned, put on extra feed, and housed 

 by the beginning of October. Both dams and calves can then be put into good 

 condition for the winter. The cost of raising cattle by this method varies 

 chiefly with the value of the grazing. 



A second method of rearing cattle employs housing, thus permitting the 

 use of the better and earlier maturing, though less hardy, beef breeds. De- 

 scribing the method as carried out at Camperdown the cows calve in Feb- 

 ruary, except the heifers which, for their further development, are allowed to 

 go till April. The cows are fed on turnips and oat straw until they go on 

 grass in May, while the calves are allowed access to the same feed as early as 

 they desire. The calves are weaned in October and put on a ration of turnips 

 and straw and 1 lb. of cake and 1 lb. of dried grain daily. The concentrated 

 ration is increased gradually to 3 lbs. per head after midwinter. At the com- 

 mencement of the grazing season the following spring the cake is increased to 

 from 5 to 6 lbs. daily. The calves are later brought into the yards and finished 

 off with turnips, straw, hay, and at the end 8 lbs. of concentrated feeds. They 

 are sold to the butcher between November and the middle of January, weigh- 

 ing from 10 to 13 cwt. at from 21 to 22 months of age. After the calves are 

 weaned in October the cows are grazed until the middle of December and 

 then housed in the cattle yards, where, except for an occasional airing on a 

 good day, they pass the winter on turnips and oat straw. 



The author describes methods whereby two, four, and even five calves are 

 suckled by one cow during a season. In this system the cows must be good 

 milkers and the pasture abundant. The cows must be watched closely and 

 additional food beyond grass, turnips, and straw given when the conditions 

 demand. 



After the calf is bom it is rubbed dry and a boHght-in calf tied with it 

 behind the cow and both allowed to suckle three or four times daily. After a 

 few weeks all are turned out together. At the end of June or the beginning of 

 July the calves are taught to eat linseed cake and bruised oats and weaned, the 

 cow tied up, and two young calves put to suckle her. These are weaned late in 

 the year and in some cases one more calf put upon the cow. 



The artificial system. — Three lines of hand feeding calves are generally 

 followed: First, the young calf is fed mostly whole milk for three or four 

 months, and in the meantime taught to consume other feeds. Second, it is fed 

 skim milk, with some substitute for the butter fat removed. Third, when milk 

 is very dear, the calves are fed substitutes after the first week or two. 



