On the different Kinds of Cattle Farms, %c. 115 



No. XL 



HINTS ON THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CATTLE FARMS, AND ON 

 THE DAIRY HUSBANDRY. 



CATTLE farms may be classed under various heads ; as, 1. Breed- 

 ing; 2. Grazing; 3. and Suckling farms; and, 4. Farms where 

 the dairy husbandry is carried on. 



A few concise observations under each of these heads, are all that 

 the limited extent of this work will admit of. 



1. Breeding Farms. 



In breeding cattle it is proper, (if the size of the farm will admit 

 of the rule being observed), to separate the different ages, and to 

 graze them, as much as possible, in distinct pastures, as the older 

 have a jealousy of the younger, driving them from the best grass, and 

 sometimes doing them material injury. 



Bulls will retain their vigour till they are twelve or fourteen years 

 old, and there are instances of their being kept till they are even nine- 

 teen years ; but they are certainly in their prime from three to six. 

 They ought always to be pastured in the same field, which prevents 

 their acquiring an inclination to ramble, and the cows should be 

 brought to them. By some farmers it is considered to be an advan- 

 tageous plan, to work the bulls with the oxen, as they are thus ren- 

 dered tamer, the owner has the profit of their labour, and all risk of 

 their doing mischief is prevented. 



Mr Bakewell used to put off sending his heifers to the bull till 

 three years old, but his cows often missed calf, which might be owing 

 to that circumstance. It is better, therefore, to send them to the 

 bull, at two years old, and some strongly recommend even an 

 earlier period. The Dutch cows generally have a calf at two years' 

 old, which doubles the stock in two years. The cows would grow to a 

 much greater size, if they had no calf till the third year ; but as, in 

 that case, the stock would not be doubled till three years, the pre- 

 sent custom is reckoned more profitable *. In the northern counties 

 they wish their cows to calve when the grass is abundant. This, it is 

 supposed, opens their milk vessels, and is a great means of rendering 

 them ever afterwards good milchers ; which is not the case, unless na- 

 ture is early made to have a tendency to that species of secretion. 

 It has been found a good plan, to give the whole of the milk, a young 

 cow yields, to the calf, when it is permitted to suckle the mother. 

 This she readily gives, and thus gets into a good habit of milking. 



Bull calves \ are sometimes nursed by hand, but generally by the 



* The Harleyan Dairy System, p. 166. 



f It has been remarked, that if a cow goes beyond her time, a male calf is 

 ^generally produced. 



