274 HOUSE-FEEDING OF CATTLE 



given once, or a second time within a few days, mixed with a 

 little hot water to reduce its viscosity and make it flow easily. 

 " Molascuit," an Argentine product (Hughes' patent), con- 

 sisting of 80 per cent, of pure cane-sugar molasses soaked 

 into 20 per cent, of selected cane fibre (three-fourths of which 

 is digestible), is convenient to handle as a food stuff, and is 

 well liked by all classes of farm stock. Cane sugar 1 is, if 

 possible, better liked by cattle than treacle, and it is more 

 easily manipulated, but it is too expensive for ordinary 

 feeding. As a rule, the best mixture of concentrated food 

 is half cake and half meal. Some prefer giving pure cake 

 for one feed in the day, to make greater variety in the food. 

 Having begun with a little (say 2 Ibs. per day, if given for 

 the first time), good breeders gradually increase the supply 

 every few weeks, as a fixed quantity of concentrated food 

 gradually loses its full effect ; 8 Ibs. per day is a good final 

 amount to reach with a good-sized bullock near the finish, 

 10 Ibs. being now regarded by the best authorities as distinctly 

 wasteful, with the comparatively low prices ruling for beef 

 and high prices for purchased feeding-stuffs. The return, 

 after a certain point is passed, is in inverse proportion to the 

 amount supplied. Much forcing of young animals, even for 

 fattening, is under ordinary circumstances a mistake, and it is 

 infinitely worse in the case of breeding stock. It is best 

 simply to keep them thriving throughout, and give them a 

 little more time. 



Chronic indigestion is not uncommon among house-fed 

 cattle when the food is too dry and fibrous. Affected animals 

 do not feed or ruminate naturally, and may grind their teeth 

 and grunt. They may be either distended with flatulence or 

 tucked in in the belly, constipated, or passing faeces in small 

 quantities. Salts and treacle, followed in a day or two by 

 linseed oil, are the usual common and available purgatives. 

 Strength should be maintained with drenches of oatmeal 

 gruel, to which I oz. of powdered gentian, I oz. of powdered 

 sulphur, and to I oz. of carbonate of ammonia may be 

 added. Long fodder is withheld, but for a short time, as 

 rumination will not be restored without it. 



Acute indigestion is not so common as the chronic form, 



1 See a paper by J. B. Lawes in the Journal of 'the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England, 1885. 



