383 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXII. 



Chapter XXXII. 

 ON THE FEEDING OF NEAT CATTLE— GRAZING— STRAW. 

 Having thus discussed the subject of tillage, we have now to treat of tlie 

 farm live-stock ; or, as Bakewell liappily expressed it, " the best machine 

 for converting herbage and other food for animals into money." The dif- 

 ferent modes of feeding cattle in the stable, shed, or straw-yard, when 

 taken from grass, though nearly the same, are distinctively termed soiling 

 and stall-feeding ; the former being exclusively applied to cut green food, 

 and the latter chiefly to that of hay and oil-cake mixed up with the escu- 

 lent roots, either in a raw state or steamed ; for the straw-yard can only 

 be applied to the winter keep of store stock. In 



The choice of cattle, their adaptation to the soil, and the quality of food 

 with which they can be regularly supplied, is the first consideration : thus 

 a man who has fertile meadow or rich marsh may fatten bullocks as large 

 as he can find them ; while on poor land, atTording but scanty pasture, and a 

 short bite in the summer, no bullocks will pay better than the small Gallo- 

 ways, or most of the Highland stock ; but on richer pasture and better 

 turnip soils, the most profitable will be found to be the larger species of the 

 Fifeshire and Lowland Scotch, with the Hereford and short-horned Yorkshire 

 breeds, or those grown in the neighbourhood. Graziers, however, would 

 act prudently in ascertaining the nature of the land upon which the cattle 

 were bred, and choosing their purchased stock from an inferior soil ; for if 

 young cattle be taken from a good to a worse soil, they are apt to become 

 stunted in their growth, and if old enougli to be fed for the butcher, they 

 will not feed so kindly as those taken fiom more indifferent pasture. 

 Generally speaking, however, bullocks from 40 to 60 stones weight (14 lbs. 

 to the stone) are much more saleable than larger ones, and may always 

 be finished with turnips, and perhaps a small addition of oil cake, if put up, 

 as they always should be, in good condition ; for nothing is more injudicious 

 than to attempt the stall-feedine: of oxen in the view of their becoming fat, 

 at any fair expense, unless they be in good order as stores. The grazier's 

 profit will depend more upon the goodness of the breed than upon the size 

 of the cattle, and the secret lies in discovering those kinds which in the 

 shortest time give the greatest quantity of flesh with the smallest quantity 

 of food. 



Respecting tlie different breeds, we, however, pretend not to give any 

 decided opinion, for their respective merits are so warmly contested 

 that we should find it difficult to judge between the different advocates 

 of their separate and opposite opinions ; but confidently refer to the 

 " History of British Cattle," as already written by Mr. Youatt, under 

 the superintendence of the Society for the Diflusion of Useful Know- 

 ledge; and having also already treated largely on the subject of pasturage, 

 as well as that of working cattle*, all that we have now to elucidate, — 

 besides a few additional remarks on grazing — therefore, regards merely 

 their feeding in the homestead, together with some further account of 

 the dairy. 



The practice of grazing necessarily differs according to the nature of 

 the land, and the judgment of its holder: hence he should, in the first 

 instance, ascertain the nature, as well as the extent, of his feeding ground, 



* On Working Cattle. — See vol. i„ chaps, vli., viii., and on Pasturage, chap, xxxi. 



