154 LIVE STOCK. 



sources of food will keep in good plight. If a poor farm 

 be unprofitable, so are poor cattle. The half of any 

 given number of animals, where they are well kept, 

 will always be found to yield as much clear profit, as 

 the whole when kept in poor condition. 



It is an object of very great consequence to every 

 husbandman, to expend, in the most economical and ad- 

 vantageous manner, the vegetable produce allotted for 

 the maintenance of his stock. Foddering should not be 

 commenced till it is really necessary ; for when the cat- 

 tle have been taught to expect it, they will neglect their 

 other feeding. Fodder at first in the morning, when the 

 frost is on the ground. Neat cattle should not yet be 

 housed ; but horses should. In cold rains they should, 

 however, be sheltered, as these are more hurtful than 

 cold dry weather. The meanest fodder should be re- 

 served for the most severe weather. The early part of 

 winter is the most improper time to pinch cattle. They 

 ©ught not to be kept constantly on salted fodder. A 

 change of food, sometimes salt, and sometimes fresh, is 

 best. Too much fodder should never be laid beibre 

 cattle at once : Rather let them have a little at a time, 

 and be fed the oftener. By constantly breathing on their 

 tood, it becomes less palatable ; and for this reason they 

 will eat that which has been exposed to the open air 

 and winds, after they have rejected it in the stable. 

 Exactness in regard to time and quantity, is of the ut- 

 most importance. Cattle which run out during winter 

 should have a shelter, and a rack under it to hold their 

 fodder. This not only saves them from much suffering, 

 but much dung is preserved by the shelter. If expos- 

 ed to cold, attended with rain, snow or sleet, their 

 wretchedness claims compassion : and the owner feeling 

 for the beasts committed to his care, should resolutely 

 practice giving them due shelter and attention. Much 

 chaff and straw, that is often thrown away, may, with a 

 little pains be made useful for stock, by mixing some- 

 thing green with it, and sprinkling a little salt through- 

 out the whole. Straw ought to be laid away as soon as 

 threshed, and brine sprinkled over each layer, so as to 

 give a degree of saltness to the whole mass, and occa 

 sionally fed out to all the neat-cattle. A great saving 

 can be made by cutting straw. One of the most econo- 



