No. 11. Rearing Cattle as practiced in BerwicJishire, England. 



333 



ridge mixed with tlie new milk, is perhaps 

 tiie best. Sago of late years has been much 

 used for this purpose; but an eminent Eng- 

 lish veterinary surgeon has recently ex- 

 pressed a very decided opinion, that its use 

 impairs the digestive powers of the animal 

 and predisposes to disease. The sour smell 

 invariably found in a calf-house, where por- 

 ridge or jelly of any kind is mixed with the 

 milk, is proof sufficient that indigestion is 

 the consequence. An egg put into each 

 calf's allowance, and mixed with tlic milk 

 by stirring with the hand, is a good help, 

 and never does harm; but with this excep- 

 tion, it is best to give the milk warm and 

 unadulterated, however small the quantity, 

 and along with this, dry farinaceous food, 

 turnips and hay, ad libitum. If more liquid 

 is needed, a pail with water may be put 

 within their reach, as this does not produce 

 the bad effects of mixed milk. Indeed, in 

 this it is the best to keep as closely as possi 

 ble to the natural arrangement according to 

 which the calf takes its suck — at first fre- 

 quently, and then at longer intervals, as it 

 becomes able to eat of the same food as its 

 dam 



The diet of the cows at this season is a 

 matter of some consequence. Swedish tur 

 nips yield the richest milk, but it is too scan 

 ty, and calves fed on it are liable to inflamma- 

 tory attacks. Globe turnips should, there- 

 fore, form their principal food during the 

 spring months. Care must also be taken 

 that they do not get too low in condition in 

 the autumn and winter, and for this end it 

 is well to put them dryaf Zeasi three months 

 before calving. Some may think this long; 

 but on a breeding farm, milk is of little value 

 at this season. The cows, when dry, are kept 

 at less expense, and by this period of rest, 

 their constitution is invigorated, greater jus- 

 tice done to the fostus, now rapidly advanc- 

 ing to maturity, and so much more milk ob- 

 tained after calving^ when it is really valu- 

 able. 



When the calves are from four to six 

 weeks old, they are removed from their sepa- 

 rate cribs to a house where several can be 

 accommodated together, and have room to 

 frisk about. So soon as the feeding-yards 

 are cleared of the fat cattle, the calves are 

 put into the most sheltered one, where they 

 have still more room, and are gradually pre- 

 pared for being turned to grass ; and when 

 this is done, they are still brought in at 

 night for some time. At six weeks old, the 

 mid-day allowance of milk is discontinued, 

 and at about fourteen weeks they are weaned 

 altogether. When this is done, their allow- 

 ance of linseed-cake is increased ; and as 

 they have been trained to its use, they rea- 



ddy eat enough to improve in condition at 

 this crisis, instead of having their growth 

 checked, and acquiring tlic large belly and 

 unthrifty appearance which used to be con- 

 sidered an unavoidable consequence of wean- 

 ing. The cake is continued until they have 

 so evidently taken with the grass as to be 

 able to dispense with it. They are not al- 

 lowed to lie out very late in autumn, but as 

 the nights begin to lengthen and get chilly, 

 are brouglit in during the night, and receive 

 a foddering of tares or clover foggage. When 

 put on turnips, the daily allowance of cake, 

 (say 1 lb. each) is resumed, and continued 

 steadily through the winter and spring, until 

 they are again turned to grass. This not 

 merely promotes their growth and feeding, 

 but — so far as the experience of five or six 

 years can determine the point — seems a spe- 

 cific against black-leg, which was often so 

 fatal as altogether to deter many farmers 

 from breeding. It maybe well to state here 

 distinctly, the particular purpose for which 

 cake is given at the different stages of their 

 growth. At first the object is to accustom 

 them to a wholesome and nutritious diet, 

 which will supplement the milk obtained 

 from any given number of cows, so as to ad- 

 mit of a greater number of calves being 

 reared, and at the same time have greater 

 justice done them than could otherwise be 

 practicable. At weaning time, again, it is 

 given to help the young animal over the 

 transition from milk to grass alone, without 

 check to growth or loss of condition. During 

 the following winter, however, the special 

 object of its use is to prevent black-leg, as, 

 but for this, turnips ad libitum would be 

 sufficient. 



When put to grass as year-olds, they de- 

 cidedly thrive better on sown grass of the 

 first year than on old pasture, differing in 

 this respect from cattle whose growth is ma- 

 tured. They are laid on turnips again as 

 early in the autumn as these are ready; and 

 it is a good practice to sow a few acres of 

 globes to be ready for this express purpose. 

 It does well to give the turnips upon the 

 grass for ten or fourteen days before putting 

 them finally into the feeding-yards; and 

 then, if they can be kept dry and warm, 

 and receive daily as many good turnips as 

 they can possibly eat — globe till Christmas, 

 and Swedish afterward, — they will grow at 

 a rate which will' afford their owner daily 

 pleasure in watching their progress, and 

 reach a weight by the 1st of May, which, 

 if markets are favourable, will reward him 

 well for all his pains. 



The leading features of this system arc, 

 uniform good keeping and progressive im- 

 provement ; in other words, to get them fat 



