188 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



* Three pounds Crushed Grain. 



From this it will be seen that for the older stock about 36 

 lbs. of hay or its equivalent are required per day. It has been 

 found that a sixtieth or If per cent, of live weight will support 

 the animal without loss, but also without gain, and to provide 

 for secretions, as milk in cows, wool on sheep, it is necessary to 

 double that ration, making it a thirtieth of the live weight or 

 ?>\ per cent. This is greater than would be required if the 

 cattle had been raised and kept up in condition from birth, as 

 is the case in England, which is no doubt the most economical 

 method. The roots are cut. The oil-cake was formerly softened 

 with water before feeding out, but now, like the crushed grain, 

 fed out dry with a slight mixture of salt, of which 12 lbs. a year 

 on an average, are used per head. The feeding takes place 

 twice a day, morning and evening. Each meal is divided into 

 several small parts, and a new one given only when the last is 

 eaten up. The stock is watered at a fountain outside, between 

 the regular meals. The fountain is a little way off from the 

 stable, so that they get some exercise in going and coming. The 

 young stock is turned daily into a roomy yard close by the 

 stalls. All the stock is curried every day, and kept clean and 

 neat. 



It has been found by careful observation that an animal 

 attains its greatest weight of body and greatest yield of milk at 

 8 years ; i. e., after the sixth calf. A cow just before calving 

 weighs 150 lbs. more, on an average, than after calving, and 

 about 200 lbs. more than when dry. The calves usually weigh 

 80 lbs. and 88 lbs. according to sex. The weight of a calf 

 when dropped is from ^^g^ to -^ of the average weight of the 



