FATTENING OF GROWN ANIMALS 263 



pastures, the nutritive value of which, it has been 

 seen, approaches that of the best feeding-stuffs, 

 and in particularly favoured districts they serve 

 as the only material used in fattening. Even on 

 the best pastures it is advisable to give the animals 

 some hay before they go to the pasture, particu- 

 larly when they first begin to go out, for otherwise 

 the hasty eating of the palatable green food to 

 which they are not accustomed easily causes dis- 

 turbances of the digestive functions. The amount 

 of fodder to be got from the pastures and its nutri- 

 tive value will determine what additions, if any, 

 of subsidiary food are necessary. As a rule, it is 

 not possible to finish the fattening of cattle on the 

 pastures, so a period of stall feeding usually has 

 to follow. Sheep, too, are generally only partially 

 fattened on the pasture, and then finished under 

 cover on a full ration. Pasture feeding, as a rule, 

 is cheaper than stall feeding, even when special 

 care is taken to watch the animals and to systema- 

 tically eat off the grass, for the labour is so much 

 less. It must not be thought though that the 

 food got from the pasture is more profitably utilised 

 than that given in the stall. The increased move- 

 ments of the animals, the conditions of weather, 

 etc. all result in a larger quantity of nutrients 

 being required for maintenance than when the 

 feeding is indoors and the animals are practically 

 at rest. On the other hand, in the open the appe- 



