62 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



under wliicli the greatest advantage would follow the adoption 

 of covered yards. In such cases, straw is always a scarce article. 

 To economise the straw, and at the same time make our manure 

 to the greatest advantage, are objects for which much might be 

 sacrificed. Breeding and growing animals require plenty of 

 ventilation. The earlier covered yards were made too con- 

 fined, and, consequently, young animals lost their hair, were 

 made tender, and when sent to market, did not sell so well as 

 those that had been in an open yard. Modern experience has 

 modified our own convictions on this important question, and 

 we are now satisfied that with ventilation without draft, and a 

 temperature only 2° to 3° above that of the external air, 

 animals can be wintered imder cover without losing hair or 

 being made less able to withstand sharp changes of weather, 

 especially if a little common sense is used, and care is exercised 

 as to gradually introducing changes. Of course we contemplate 

 that the young growing animals shall have just the same 

 opportunities for exercise in the covered as the open folds. We 

 do not say but what the open yard is the more natural system, 

 but, in order to make farming profitable, we must economise 

 food and preserve manure from waste, and we are quite satisfied, 

 from a large experience, that the objection against covered 

 yards, as regards breeding animals, arises from prejudice, and 

 defects of construction which prevailed in earlier days. There 

 is one very strong evidence in favour of the views we are 

 advocating, and that is, that we have never met with any one, 

 who, having had the opportunity of practically testing the merits 

 of well constructed covered yards, ever wished to go back to the 

 original arrangements. 



No doubt covered yards are specially suitable for animals that 

 are kept entirely under cover from birth to death, and on arable 

 farms where breeding is attempted, the produce being destined 

 for the butcher at the earliest possible age, this system can be 

 successfully carried out, and great weights attained at an early 

 period. Again, when animals are bought in for winter grazing, 

 the use of boxes, or even tying up under cover, is an excellent 

 system, provided we have good ventilation. The farmers in the 

 eastern counties, with farms chiefly arable, require stock in large 

 quantities to feed. They produce a great bulk of straw, which 



