GENERAL FEEDING 455 



pecially during the first winter. The amount called for will 

 depend chiefly on the character of the roughage fed, but 

 the necessity for feeding more than 2 to 4 pounds per 

 animal seldom exists. As a rule mature horses that are 

 idle do not require grain until within a few weeks of the 

 time labor begins. 



It will in nearly all instances be found profitable to 

 feed concentrates to cattle under the following conditions: 

 (i) To calves that are being reared on skim milk and to 

 all calves from the weaning period onward for a time; (2) 

 to young animals that are being grown to furnish baby 

 beef (see p. 402) ; (3) to cattle that are being fattened 

 under all conditions of fattening; (4) to cows in milk 

 during the entire period of lactation. A liberal supply will 

 be in order for calves grown on skim milk (see p. 404), and 

 those grown for baby beef should be given practically all 

 they will consume without injury. The amount fed to 

 cattle that are being fattened may be much reduced when 

 they are on good grass, and possibly withheld for a time, 

 (see p. 398). The necessity for feeding large amounts 

 of grain to cows in milk on good pasture is still in a way, 

 an open question (see p. 440), but it is about cer- 

 tain that to feed a limited amount to cattle that 

 are being fattened and to cows in milk will be at- 

 tended with some profit. It will usually be profitable to 

 feed calves 2 or 3 pounds of grain per animal per day the first 

 winter, and also the second winter, if they are to be finished 

 on grass the following summer. It may not be profitable 

 to feed grain to young cattle after the first winter where the 

 grazing is abundant. It is not usually necessary to feed 

 it to heifers intended for the dairy, except for a time, sub- 

 sequently to weaning. Nor is it usually necessary to feed 

 grain to cows not in milk. 



Sheep will profit from being given concentrates under 

 the following conditions : ( I ) It will always be in order to 

 feed grain to lambs before the season of grazing and subse- 

 quently if they are to be sold as milk lambs ; (2) to lambs for 



