DOMESTIC ANIMALS 245 



ing system for years supported thirty Jersey cows, two to the acre. 

 Grazing animals trample and destroy more than they eat. The 

 manure is unequally distributed, leaving part of the land unfer- 

 tilized and causing part to produce rank growth which stock avoid. 

 When such crops as alfalfa, drilled corn, oats, vetches, rye, and 

 clovers are cut and fed to cattle, their full value is utilized as food 

 and as manure. Cows are often more comfortable in good stables 

 than in pastures where flies annoy them. 



On many farms there are woodland or meadow pastures unavail- 

 able for crops, which it is economical to use for pastures. These 

 will often be found more profitable when supplemented by soiling 

 crops. 



EXERCISE 



1. Do you know any domestic animal that is fed a balanced ration? 

 an unbalanced one ? What is the condition of each ? 



2. Name three stock foods rich in protein ; three rich in carbohydrates. 



3. In your locality, which is more profitable, pasturing or soiling? 

 Give reasons. - 



CATTLE 



History. Formerly all farm animals were called cattle. Now 

 the term is applied only to beef and dairy breeds. Our tame breeds 

 are descended from the wild cattle of Europe and Asia; most of the 

 improved ones have been developed in Great Britain. They have 

 had their milk and flesh capacity developed by food, care, and 

 selection. 



Cattle are raised chiefly for beef, veal, milk, cream, butter, and 

 cheese; but they furnish us other things. Their hides are valuable 

 for leather, their hair for plaster, their hoofs for glue, their bones 

 for buttons and fertilizers. 



Beef and Dairy Breeds. Cattle may be divided into two great 



