fH1 



KMERS' REGISTER. 



Vol. Vn. 



SEPTEMBER 30, 1839. 



No. 9. 



EDMUND RUFPIN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. 



From tlie r.ondoii Farmer's Magazine, for July, ]839. 

 ON THK REARING AND FEEOING OF CATTLE. 



In our islaml, where the donies'ic aninialg enter 

 so lartjely into the article of human Iboii, a fl;reat 

 pari oC the liirmer's atlentioii must be devoted lo 

 the reari^tg of ihe'm to the deirree ol" perlijction 

 their ultimate use rep,iiires ; for every labor he- 

 slowed on any kind ofcultivation, and every article 

 llie farmer produces by the -application of that 

 ial)or, tends to -the same result— the production of 

 food for man and beasr. Before the introduction 

 of green crops, a very impeilect'syslem of rearing 

 prevailed, from want of succulent Ibod (or winter; 



and the beef commands a higher price in the mar- 

 ket. In bringing cattle lorvvard to the state 

 when they are dis|)ose(j of to the consumer, larmera 

 have adopted two methods ; some prefer to breed 

 and feed on the farm, a number that the farm can 

 support, and others to buy yearly a number ihey 

 can afford to feed. Tlae preference given to either 

 of the two methods would seem to "be, or should 

 be, determined by locality and other circumstances; 

 yet caprice and (iincy would seem to do much, for 

 it is hard to conceive how two (iirms adjoining 

 each other should be suitable to different modes 

 excepf in the bare opinion of the fi^rmer, or how 

 iwo breeds of animals can be most profitable in 

 grass-led animals could only be brought to market, I similar cases, except in opinion only. In many 



and if kept throtiirh winter they lost during that 

 time the liegree pf condition they had acquired du- 

 rmg summer; (i^rhay and straw if used in prolusion 

 will not rear or feed the aninials quickly and profi- 

 tably. The cultivation of" green crops has com- 

 pletely altered the whole system, and has introduc- 

 ed an entire revohiiiun, both in the cul!iv;ilion of 

 the land, and in the management of the domestic 

 animals, a belter and more regular supply of food 

 has been obtained, and a vast addition to the num- 

 ber and quality ofevery article produced on the liirm. 

 An ini()iovement in the supply of" food carried 

 along with it corresponding improvements in the 

 animals themselves, and on no point of rural econ- 

 omy has more skill and exertion been shown, or 

 more persevering industry exercised, than we 

 have witnessed by many breeders in this kingdom 

 in improving the qualities of the animals, b}' inter- 

 mixing and engrafting the properties of tlie one on 

 the other, so as to develope and bring forth those 

 qualities for the use of man. Our breeds of cattFe 

 are numerous, but the various crosses and rem- 

 nants of old breeds need not be enumerated, and 

 they may be reduceil to the few breeds that are 

 now most approved, and from vvliich we may 

 choose lor any situation in the- kingdom. For all 

 rich soils and tiivored situalions, the Durham breed, 

 or short-horns are prelcrred, and the long-horns 

 are stdl kept by many excellent cultivators. The 

 Herefbrds and short-horns seem nearly balanced in 

 merits, if we may judge fi-om the prizes awarded 

 them. For inlerior lands we have the Devon 

 breed, not surpassed by any cattle in the kingdom, 

 and besides we have nmltitudcs of nondescript 

 animals, that do not fiUI under any class, but winch 

 are yet much used in all parts of the kingdom. 

 In Scotland, where great numbers of cattle are 

 reared and exported, the native breeds are three 

 — the Ayrshire which are evidently allied to the 

 Yorkshire breed — the Gallo.vays, or polled blacks, 

 and the West Highland breed of horned black, 

 shaggy-haired animals, whicli are (bund, with 

 some little variation, all over the western aiid 

 northern Highlands of Scotland. Great numbers 

 of these animals are fed in England ; and an opi- 

 nion is entertained, and my own experience goes 

 far in support of it, that these mountain cattle pay 

 more money per head and jjer acre, than any oC 



situations tlie difference to be observed between 

 breeding and feeding, is most marked, and it ig 

 very lortunafc that the diversity of opinion prevails 

 in other places, for it aflbnls a ready market for 

 our mountain breeds, which if the case was other- 

 wise, might not be so profitable. In choosing a 

 native breed, the fiu-mer will be guided by \he 

 qualify of the soil, the (bod he can produce, and 

 by other circumstances, and much will depend on 

 his own fancy; hut if he prefer to buy in, rather 

 than breed, it will be (bund that the Scotch polled 

 and West Highland breed will pay more money 

 than any other. A very general mistake is cotn- 

 iniited in not allowing them sufficient time on tfie 

 land, in order to feed^ — not less than eighteen 

 months should be allowed, or twelve in cases 

 where they have been bought in good condition. 

 Green crops being now known to us, which if duly 

 cultivated will afford succulent food during win- 

 ter, it is understood that no fiumer neglects provi- 

 ding a sufficient quantity if he wishes to rear and 

 feed profitably, not only with regard to the profits 

 of the animals itself, b^ut to the manure raised Ibr 

 the future benefit of the farm. But notwithstand- 

 ing the long acknowledged profits of these crops 

 and also of improved breeds of stock, we find great 

 neglect prevail on both points ; (or if we look into 

 Smithfield, or any other market, we find the im- 

 proved animals bear a small proportion to the 

 others; farmers yet persist in breeding very unthrif- 

 ty animals, and ibr want of green crops they are 

 bred and starved upon a system. In manj' cases 

 however, we find both breeding and feeding car- 

 ried on systematically and profitably, with due 

 attention to the profits expected from the animal 

 itselJj from the attention and food bestowed, and 

 also to the future benefits expected (i-om the system. 

 Cow-sheds should be provided wiih call-pens 

 jadjoininff, under the same roof, where the calves 

 are confined in separate apartments (or one animal, 

 and floored with boards, pierced with auger holes 

 that they may lay dry and comfortable. From these 

 apartments they are brought twice or thrice a day 

 to be suckled, led by a halter, and tied, when 

 sucking, to a rope extended along the cow-shed. 

 Suckling is always to be preferred to nursing by 

 the pail ; when miik is exposed, mueh of the va- 

 ue is lost, the gnssous fluids go ofl by evaporation; 



our fine breeds, after all the improvements that and the appearance of the calves nursed by the 

 iiave been made. The cost ol'production is small ; two njelhods is a sufficient d'eclsion. Suckling is 

 Vol. VI— Go 



