LIVE-STOCK. 459 



Wean them gradually. It is very injurious to withhold a full supply 

 of milk abruptly, and confine them to grass and water. It often 

 stunts them, so that they never recover from it. 



Beeves. — Bullocks or dry cows should be confined a large pro- 

 portion of the time in close yards or spacious stalls well littered. 

 Feed with hay, corn meal and some pumpkins or roots. Better 

 feed bountifully and fatten rapidly than to give a small allowance 

 and fatten slowly. 



— It is bad policy to sell good cows for beef because they com- 

 mand a high price. Better hold on to good cows for breeding. 



— If the weather be pleasant, allow fattening bullocks or dry 

 cows to exercise in a small yard several hours daily. As the warm 

 weather comes on, their thrift will be promoted by carding as often 

 as once a day. As soon as grass is large enough, let them graze 

 about an hour daily ; then return them to the yard, but do not di- 

 minish the quantity of meal. Beeves will fatten very fast if man- 

 aged rightly. If meal be discontinued, they will not fatten much 

 till their bowels become accommodated to green feed. 



— During April, bullocks three years old should receive from 

 ten to fifteen pounds of fine corn meal, mingled with wet straw 

 during the day. Meal fed at this season of the year will prepare 

 them to lay on fat and flesh when they are turned to grass. This is 

 equally true of fattening sheep designed for early mutton. 



— Sheep should not be confined in close stables, but, except 

 during storms, should have the range of a large stockyard or lot. 

 Feed in well-constructed racks and feeding-troughs. Turnips and 

 beets, fed freely, are very fattening, and more economical generally 

 than corn. Whatever grain is fed should be given regularly ; even 

 a very small quantity is well, if it can be fed so that each sheep 

 shall get its share. Salt ought to be kept constantly where the 

 sheep can get at it. If, however, it has not been, they must be 

 gradually accustomed to it. Sheep need water in winter. It is 

 much better for them to have access to water which does not freeze. 



— Exercise and fresh air are essential to their health. Shelters 

 must be well ventilated, not crowded, and the sheep turned out 

 daily, except in severe storms. Roots, fed with grain, will be re- 

 turned in wool and mutton. Pregnant ewes should have little, if 

 any, grain, but roots with hay. Those yeaning early will need sep- 

 arate, clean, not over-littered apartments, and careful attention, that 

 the lambs be not fatally chilled. 



— There is no better feed for young swine, horses, neat cattle of 

 all kinds and sheep than peas and oats. Seed may be obtained 

 by the barrel or sack of seed-dealers in most cities and large towns. 



