48 Maiuujcment of Cattle. 



successive seasons tested against grazing in the open field with 

 the same allowance of meal, cake, &c., as well as against grazing 

 without any supplementary food. Our experiments for the first 

 year, though they gave satisfactory results, did not receive such 

 minute attention as would enable me to illustrate them by 

 figures. In 1)504 it was resolved to be more systematic and 

 methodical in our arrangements ; and, although we had the 

 disadvantage of experimenting with cattle of different ages and 

 breeds, this difficulty was got over by employing competent 

 practical judges to value the various lots at the commencement 

 of the experiments. Taking the difference between the valuation 

 and the sum realised at sale, we are able to arrive at the value 

 each lot left per acre for the crop consumed. 



Lot 1. — Twelve in number, consisted of 5 Galloway heifers, 

 4 years old, valued on 12th May, 1864, at 25/. each ; 5 half- 

 half-bred heifers, 2 years old (crosses between West Highland 

 Kyloe, and Shorthorn bull), valued at same date at 19/. each, 

 and 2 West Highland Kyloe heifers, 4 years old, valued also at 

 19/. each ; the total value of the 12 cattle being 258/. 



From 12th May to loth October they were kept upon a 6-acre 

 field of Italian rye-grass and clover, daily cut and carted to them in 

 the yards ; and from 13th October to 17th November they were 

 fed upon turnips, «5cc. Along with their grass, and subsequently 

 with their turnips, they had 5 lbs. each per day of Indian corn- 

 meal and barley-meal mixed ; and from loth August to 17tli 

 November they had, in addition to the above, 2 lbs. each of 

 best oilcake. The cost of the meal and cake respectively is 

 lOf/. per imperial stone for the former, and Ibd. for the latter 

 (or 10/. per ton), cash prices. The sum the lot realised at sale 

 was 377/. 5.S., from which deduct od. per pound discount for 

 cash (= 4/. 14s. 3f/.), leaving 372/. lOs. 9^. 



Thus 12 cattle, prime value of lot 

 5 lbs. meal per day, from 12tli May to 17th November 

 2 lbs. oilcake per day, from 13th August to 17th") 

 November / 



302 

 372/. 10s. M. against 302/. gives a difference of 70/. 10s. 9^^. 

 for grass and turnips consumed. While upon turnips the lot 

 consumed, on an average, besides the meal and cake, 6 stones of 

 sliced roots per head per day : these were swedes, and the best 

 crop on the farm. The weight of the crop (cleaned bulbs) was 

 about 30 tons per acre (6 tons per acre below the maximum in 

 1863 on the same farm). It Avill thus be seen, from the quantity 

 of sliced roots consumed per day and the weight of the crop, 

 that the above lot, during the time they were upon turnips, were 



