WORCESTER SOCIETY. 193 



and a third per cent, of their live weight, and this proportion 

 would be constantly increasing until they dropped their calves. 

 The cows of Mr. Lincoln required a sufficiency of food for their 

 own support, the supply of milk they were giving, and the sus- 

 tenance and growth of the calves within them, of which they 

 would be delivered at different periods. The one consumed in 

 food or its equivalent in hay, two and four-tenths per cent., and 

 the other two and four-fifths per cent, of their live weight. Of the 

 oxen referred to in the trial by Mr. Hawes, they required more 

 food in consequence of their being employed in labor instead 

 of being at rest, and more in consequence of being exposed to 

 the inclemency of the weather for a part of the day, instead 

 of being in the barn protected from the cold. The consump- 

 tion of food by them was two and four-tenths per cent, of their 

 live weight. These facts are important for the information of 

 every farmer that may be enabled to calculate with more pre- 

 cision whether he has sufficient sustenance for his stock 

 through the winter, making a liberal allowance for a late spring. 

 No man can afford to stint his stock in their food. Should he, 

 at any time have reason to fear that his supply of hay, straw, 

 &c., may be insufficient to carry his stock well through the 

 season, it will be far better for him to sell a part at a reduced 

 price, or even to give them away, than to allow them to be- 

 come poor. An ox or a cow poor in the spring, will require 

 nearly the whole of the summer months in good feed to re- 

 cover its condition, and its use of little benefit to the owner; 

 With young cattle, to be stinted in their growth through 

 poverty, is an irreparable injury. 



Of the manner adopted by Mr. Dodge in the care of his steers, 

 the committee cannot approve. After the first week they were 

 confined wholly within the barn, without being allowed to go 

 out for drink or for air and exercise. They were fed twice 

 each day, and had water given to them but once each day. 

 That cattle closely confined will take on fat more readily, is 

 undoubtedly true, but in this instance the tendency to increase 

 in flesh was counteracted by their not being fed and watered 

 so frequently as they should have been. Cattle should have 

 food with much regularity at least three times a day, and during 

 the long winter nights, particularly where the barn is so con- 

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