34 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



pulp depends upon our resources ; about 701b. to 801b. per day 

 is amply sufficient, which is about half the quantity that would 

 be necessary if the animals were fed on the old plan. The 

 reason for placing them in yards is to bring them by degrees to 

 a life of confinement ; if at once placed in the boxes or tied up, 

 they sweat so much as to loose flesh. They should remain in 

 the yard about three weeks, after which they will settle in the 

 boxes. Many complain with justice of the expense of boxes, 

 which is quite double that of byres ; but it must be allowed 

 that animals thrive much faster in them than when tied up, and 

 the manure is most excellent. We do not believe in stale 

 fermented or cooked food ; hence the pulp is made each day, 

 and consumed within twenty-four hours. The animals are fed 

 three times a day with the mixture, and the cotton cake being in 

 lumps is given and readily eaten by itself at noon ; the meal, 

 that is, the palm-nut and the barley, being scattered over the 

 pulp and chaff. Eock salt should always be supplied, and the 

 animals require water ; it is best when this is laid on, and 

 always at command, but, as this is often not possible, we supply 

 it once a day. Cattle eating 801b. of roots with 201b. of chaff 

 will drink from four to six gallons a day. Some people recom- 

 mend the use of the brush and currycomb, and no doubt 

 the circulation improves when the pores are kept open ; but in 

 boxes cattle can rest themselves and keep themselves clean 

 better than when tied up — moreover, the expense is consider- 

 able. If cattle are tied up in byres, we believe it would aid the 

 process if they were turned out daily to stretch their legs. At 

 first they would probably run about a good deal. Young 

 growing animals especially require a little exercise, and any loss 

 of force would be made up by improved appetite. We have 

 found animals feed quite as rapidly in a sheltered yard, with 

 plenty of shed and crib room, as when tied up. When within 

 about a month of the market, we add 21b. of the best linseed 

 cake, making eight pounds a day of artificial food. This is 

 expensive feeding, as we cannot calculate such food at much less 

 than Id. a lb. We calculate the cost of house feeding as 

 follows : J of a cwt. of roots, 4i^d. ; 61b. of artificial food, 

 say at 5d. ; hay and straw used as chaff, say 201b. a day, at SI. 

 a ton, 6d. ; attendance 2d. ; total. Is. SJc?. per day, or 10s. 2^d. 



