334 



FARMERS' REGISTER— GRAZING NEAT CATTLE. 



With regard to the species of cattle best calcu- 

 lated for grazing, spayed heifers and oxen are cer- 

 tainly superior to any other stock; the former, in- 

 deed, are of less ii-equent occurrence, though thtjy 

 fatten with more ex|>edition. Many grnziers con- 

 eider heifers more kindly in their disposition to feed 

 than steers; particularly when th(;y have already 

 had a calf; and Mr. Honey bourne, the respectable 

 successor of Bakewell, at Dishley, is of ojnnion 

 that they are superior to oxen lor fatting at any 

 age, and that they will produce a greater weic^ht 

 of beef per acre.* Wintering heifers in caltj in 

 some grazing districts termed incalvcrs, may also 

 be advantageously fattened, if attention be paid to 

 selection, and the beasts are well fed during the 

 winter, on rich succulent crops; they are occasion- 

 ally sold tor small sums at the autumnal or Mi- 

 chaelmas fairs, and may be disposed of in the suc- 

 ceeding spring, with their calves running by their 

 side, to considerable profit. Free Marlins, or 

 barren cows, have also been tried for the purpose 

 of fattening, but they rarely succeed. This is also 

 the case with old cows, and such as are become 

 dry, which may, in a f&-w instances, prove a source 

 of profit, but are for the most part hazardous, and 

 much inferior to young or middle-aged stock, in 

 point of kindliness to fatten. Such cows have 

 been found to fatten more readily after they have 

 taken the bull, than when barren. 



In stocking lands, as the proportion of beasts 

 must depend upon the fertility of the soil, it will 

 generally be found that local custom, whicdi is 

 usually the result of experience, will aflord the 

 surest guide. In the counties of Somerset and 

 Devon, one acre, or one acre and a half of the 

 richer kinds of land, are allotted to one ox, to 

 which a sheep is sometimes added: but fertile as 

 tliose dish-icts are, they are surpassed by the richer 

 grounds of Lincolnshire, the best of which will 

 support one ox and fourteen large sheep on tvv'o 

 acres during the whole summer, and five sheep on 

 a similar space of land in the winter, or sixteen 

 sheep on one acre throughout the summer. In- 

 stances have indeed occurred, in which one hun- 

 dred and ten Lincolnshire sheep, and fifteen large 

 bullocks of the same breed, have been fattened on 

 fifteen acres, the last-mentioned animals having 

 been put to spring grass out of the straw-yard, 

 and fattened to the weight of 1,130 pounds by the 

 ensuing Michaelmas. 



In order to graze cattle to advantage, it will be 

 profitable to ciiange them from one pasture to ano- 

 ther, beginning with the most inferior grass, and 

 gradually removing them into the best. By this 

 expedient, as cattle delight in variety, they will 

 cull the uppermost or choicest part of the grass, 

 and by filling themselves quickly, as well as by 

 lying down much, they will rapidly advance to- 

 Avards a proper state of fatness; while the grass, 

 which is thus left, may be fed off v/ith laboring 

 cattle, and lastly with sheep. Hence it will be 

 advisable to have several inclosures, well fenced 

 and sheltered, and abundantly supplied with 

 wholesome water. Respecting the best size for 

 such inclosures, there is a difference of opinion; 

 from ten to fifteen or twenty acres, perhaps, is the 

 most appropriate; though, if any be of a greater 

 extent than this, they may be divided by a strong, 

 but temporary fence for this purpose. Their size, 



* See the Agricultural Sim'ey of Leicester, p. 232. 



hov/ever, should be various, as small ones axe pre- 

 ferable in winter, and larger ones during the sum- 

 mer. Thus the greatest and strongest cattle will 

 be separated from the weaker ones; for, if cattle of 

 various sizes are indiscriminately mingled together, 

 the more powerlid beasts will master the others, 

 driving them from jjlace to place, and trampling 

 upon or wasting more food than they can eat. 



To prevent these inconveniences, and also to 

 stock the land to the greatest advantage, some in- 

 telligent graziers recommend the following method 

 of feeding and fattening cattle. Suppose there 

 are four inclosures, one ought to be kept perfectly 

 free ii'om stock till the grass is in its fliU growth, 

 when the prime, or fattening cattle should be put 

 into it, that they may get the best food; the second 

 best should then follow, and the young stock -after 

 all, making the whole feed over the four inclosures 

 in the following succession: — 



First inclcsure. Free from stock, till ready for 

 the best cattle. 



Second inclosure. For the reception of the best 

 cattle, till sent to No. 1. 



Third inclosure. For the second best cattle, 

 till sent to No. 2. 



Fourth inclosure. For the young cattle till sent 

 to No. 3. 



Thus the fourth inclosure is kept fi-ee from sfock 

 till the grass is got up, and it is ready for the prime 

 cattle. To which we will add, that the inclosures 

 should be finally gone over by store sheep; by 

 which they will be eaten down to a close and even 

 sward, to the great benefit of the aftergrowth. 



It will also be of service to erect rubbing-posts 

 in different parts of the various inclosures, where 

 stock are feeding, as such posts keep the cattle 

 from the fences, and furnish them, no doubt, with 

 an agreeable, and perhaps, a salutary amusement. 

 Some Norfolk fiirmers draw the crown of a tree, 

 with the lower part of the boughs left on it, into 

 the middle of the close; this is less trouble than 

 putting down a post, is easily rolled and removed, 

 and seems to be still more agreeable to the cat- 

 tle.* 



Before v/e proceed to discuss the other branches 

 connected with the grazing of cattle, it Avill not be 

 altogether irrelevant to state a few particulars con- 

 cerning the peculiar practice, or management of 

 some of the most eminent graziers. 



Thus, some flu-mers purchase heifiers, and other 

 lean stock, from the month of March or April, to 

 the month of May, and turn them in upon the 

 meadows and pastures as early as possible. Here 

 the beasts become completely fat on the grass-feed 

 towards the close of October, or the commence- 

 ment of November, or perhaps later in the year, 

 according to their kindliness of disposition in 

 taking on fat. In the county of Middlesex, this 

 method is applied with uncommon success, on hay- 

 farms. The graziers in that county purchase 

 small cattle, which are in pretty good condition, as 

 early in the autumnal quarter as the rowen latter- 

 math, or after-grass, is ready; into this the beasts 

 are turned, and are sold to considerable advantage 

 about the end of October, or early in the ensuing 

 month of November. 



There is anotlier mode practised in some graz- 



* Marshall's Rural Ecoijomy of Norfolk, Vol. II. 

 p. 115, 2nd Edit, 



