( 342 ) 

 VI. — Experiments in Cattle- Feeding. By E. W. MooRE. 



To THE f^DITOK OF THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



Sir, — Believing that it is the wish of the Council to make the 

 Journal a record of facts which the experience of its members 

 may enable them to furnish, I think that possibly you may con- 

 sider the accompanying paper of sufficient interest for insertion 

 in the forthcoming number. As you will perceive, it is the 

 account of an experiment made in the feeding of animals of dif- 

 ferent breeds, and belonging to different owners. It arose in the 

 following manner : — In the year 1853, two gentlemen (breeders 

 of shorthorns) residing in this district entered into a sweep- 

 stakes of 5/. each to feed an ox from their respective herds for 

 the purpose of testing their comparative merits in feeding for 

 the butcher, and it was agreed that they should place their 

 animals in the hands of some impartial person for the purpose. 

 They requested me to undertake the matter for them, and, on 

 mentioning the application to the Earl of Radnor, his Lordship 

 was very willing that the experiment should be carried on here. 

 From vai'ious causes the result was not satisfactory, and I made 

 no award. 



During the time this experiment was proceeding it occurred 

 to me that it might be desirable to try one on a more extended 

 scale between different breeds, and by a mode of feeding which 

 would be more in accordance with the practice of farmers 

 in their usual course of business than was adopted in this 

 instance ; I therefore wrote to several well-known breeders or 

 their agents, who, at my request, sent animals of the ages and 

 in the condition which appeared to me desirable. Eighteen 

 animals were supplied — ten of one age and eight one year 

 younger. The Tables herewith sent contain the result of the 

 plan adopted. The animals in the first lot, as will be seen 

 by the Table, differed a little in age, but not much in condition. 

 A few days after they reached Coleshill, 1 requested Mr. Trinder 

 of Moisey Hampton and Cricklade (a person who is in the habit 

 of dealing extensively in cattle), to put a market price on each, 

 which is the amount stated in the Table (with the exception of 

 No. 1, where the amount actually paid was substituted). The 

 only difficulty Mr. Trinder felt was about the Scot, which was 

 very small, and the value of which was, I believe, finally fixed 

 lower than he first thought of, in consequence of a remark made 

 by myself. 



The ten beasts were all sold by auction on the 4th of December, 

 1854, at Lord Radnor's annual sale of fat stock, no purchaser 



