ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 31 



3. Practically all the food can be made avail- 

 able for use, while systems of pasturing prevent 

 the entire use of any crop, a large part of it being 

 wasted by the tramping of the animals. 



4. The expense of fencing is saved, and the 

 land is more completely utilized. The only fences 

 required on farms where soiling systems are fol- 

 lowed are those around the exercising grounds. 

 A five -acre exercising lot is ample for fifty to 

 seventy- five head of cattle. 



5. In the production of sanitary milk (that is, 

 clean milk, free from taints, odors and flavors), 

 the soiling system is much superior to pasturing, 

 as the source of supply of food and water may be 

 controlled. Under the soiling system, there is no 

 necessity that milk at certain seasons taste grassy 

 or garlicky or bitter, due to the consumption of 

 various weeds, which are likely to be present even 

 in the best of pastures. Furthermore, the animals 

 do not have access to stagnant pools of water, 

 which frequently contribute undesirable character- 

 istics to the milk. 



The disadvantages of the soiling system are 

 chiefly two: 



1. The greater expenditure for labor and 

 expense in the preparation of soil, seeding and 

 fertilizing in providing for the crop, and in cutting 

 and carrying the food to the animals. In pastur- 

 ing, the minimum of labor is required. 



