CHAPTER III, 



PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING-NATURE AND VALUE 

 OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD. 



E now proceed to consider the question of feeding, 

 wliicli may be divided into several heads ; thus we 

 may settle the age at which an animal can be brought 

 out, the nature and value of different kinds of food, 

 and the profit or loss that may be looked for from the opera- 

 tion. Evidently our views upon the first point will depend upon 

 the nature of external circumstances. In the case of very rich 

 feeding land, such as the Leicestershire pastures, the best return 

 will generally result from purchasing well-bred full-grown 

 animals in fresh condition, and finishing them off rapidly. Such 

 land is too valuable to do the earlier work, which may be 

 effected on cheaper material. Wherever sufficient straw is 

 grown to provide litter and some forage, it is often on 

 such farms a good plan to purchase in the autumn, winter well 

 on straw and oilcake, and thus turn out fresh in May. At any 

 rate, it is good policy to secure a portion of stock before winter, 

 and make up our quantity in the spring, buying more or less 

 according to the prospect of keep and the state of trade. On 

 such land, breeding and rearing seldom pays. A cow, living on 

 three acres, would not do as well as three fattening animals, 

 from each of which we may look for <£5 or £6 as the return for 

 grass consumed. Summer feeding may be dismissed without 

 further comment, save to remark that we should always try and 

 purchase well-bred animals, such, as a rule, having greater 

 tendency to fatten ; that some sort of shelter should be provided 

 during the heat of summer ; and that the use of a very moderate 



