CHAPTER VI. 



LIVE-STOCK. 



LIVE-STOCK is more or less important to the farmer, accord- 

 ing to the circumstances under which his business is carried on. 

 In extensive grain-growing regions, where the policy is simply 

 to raise the largest possible crops, rather by extent of cultivation 

 than by excessive production per acre, and where it is intended 

 either to trust to luck for fertility of land, or deliberately to ex- 

 haust and abandon it, live-stock forms no important part of the 

 farm interest, it being necessary to keep only such teams as are 

 required for plowing and harvesting. In other extensive regions, 

 where the chief, almost the entire, business of the farmer is 

 confined to the grazing of large flocks and herds on natural 

 pastures, he cares for little else than live-stock ; but, at the same 

 time, his animals live almost in a state of nature, require scarcely 

 any attention beyond the annual branding and the annual selec- 

 tion of droves for market, and he needs to know almost nothing 

 concerning their management, as understood by skilful husband- 

 men. Live-stock becomes an important element in the economy 

 of the farm only when our object is to raise fine animals, to raise 

 beef for market, or wool, or dairy products, or poultry, as a 

 means for converting the production of the land into a market- 

 able form. 



Mixed farming requires close attention and a knowledge of 

 means, methods, and results, that can only be acquired through 

 practice. Everything raised on -the farm should be consumed 

 on the farm, if possible. Skill in feeding stock economically is 

 one necessary requirement in a successful farmer. Care in 

 .handling stock is another, and the judicious selection of kind, 

 age, and number, is perhaps the most difficult of all. One farm 

 is adapted to cattle, another to sheep, a third to neither, and a 

 fourth to them all. To make a wise selection as to the farm, 

 the kind of stock to keep, and the proper number, supplemented 

 with convenient buildings, careful management, and economical 

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