Stall-Feeding 153 



intervals than when food is given at constantly varying 

 periods. 



Cost of Feeding. 



Having at various times carefully weighed and 

 measured the rations consumed by my goats, I am able to 

 state with some precision the cost. For goats that are 

 pastured daily, with the exception of the few days during 

 which they are housed, this amounts to but little more 

 than the proportional rent of the land. During summer, 

 therefore, as far as grass is concerned, the cost need not 

 be set down at more than 6d. per week. This is, indeed, 

 what is generally charged when goats are pastured out on 

 other people's land. When the goats are stall-fed entirely 

 each will consume on an average 2lb. of hay, costing id. 

 (reckoning the price at 845. per load) ; about plb. of 

 roots at 2os. per ton, value also id. ; and a feed of oats and 

 bran measured out in two large handfuls, and weighing, 

 the oats Jib. and the bran 2oz., costing together about 

 fd. Grains, and many other articles enumerated in the 

 chapter on Feeding, I do not take here into account, as 

 when these are supplied a smaller quantity of roots and 

 hay will be required, and the substances I have estimated 

 for are those which will come to the most money. I am at 

 least on the safe side in the selection made. " The sum of 

 these items represents a total of 2|d. Add a small quan- 

 tity of oil-cake for goats that are in full yield or want 

 feeding up, or for others whose appetites are such that 

 the ordinary rations are insufficient, and roughly, in 

 order to avoid the charge of having underestimated my 

 expenditure, I will set the cost per day at $d. A goat that 

 is pastured in summer and stall-fed in winter should not 

 cost during the twelve months more than 3. The cost 

 here given may be much reduced when the owner makes 

 his own hay and grows his own roots and much of the 



