154 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



CHAPTER IX. 

 OF GRAZING CATTLE. 



THE feeding and fattening of cattle is an important object in the 

 economy of the grass farm ; hence the farmer should previously 

 consider the nature and fertility of his pastures, and the extent and 

 quality of his other resources ; and according to these he should regu- 

 late his system of grazing, soiling, or stall-feeding. He should then 

 select those animals only which evince the most evident disposition to 

 fatten u'ith the least consumption of food, and depasture them upon such 

 lands as are best calculated for the respective breeds, especially taking 

 care not to bring cattle from rich to inferior soils, but, wherever it is 

 practicable, to choose them from lands of nearly the same quality as 

 those destined for their reception. 



The introductory view of the different breeds of cattle given in the 

 early pages of this work will probably supply some hints for enabling 

 the farmer to decide what kind of stock is adapted for special situations. 

 In addition to this we would observe as a rule, a very simple one, 

 but of great practical importance, that the larger beasts are preferable 

 for the more luxuriant pastures, while in such as are less rich small 

 stock answer best. Thus, a grazier who has fertile pasture or deep 

 alluvial land may select his beasts as large as he can find them ; but he 

 who has only indifferent grass should take care to proportion the size of 

 his beasts to the quality of their pasture, for it is better to have cattle 

 rather too small than too large for the quality of the land. 



Hence we find that, in the rich grazing counties of Durham and 

 Lincoln, large breeds are chosen, while in Norfolk and Suffolk the 

 Highland, Galloway, and other Scotch cattle as well as a large number 

 of Irish are fattened in preference to other breeds, not on account of 

 their value and the excellence of their flesh, but from their suitability 

 to the lightness of the soil 



The Herefords, the Devons, and the Shorthorns are breeds now 

 much approved for grazing and fattening purposes ; and after them 

 come the black Welsh, and the Eed Polled breeds of cattle, all of 

 which are eminently profitable in particular situations. In order to 

 carry on the grazing of cattle with effect, it is necessary that the 

 farmer lay down a definite plan or system, and proceed regularly 

 therein, deviating from it in those instances only which obviously tend 

 to improve his cattle, and thus ultimately to increase his profits. 



With regard to the kind of cattle best calculated for profitable 

 grazing, spayed heifers and oxen are sometimes looked upon as superior 

 to any other stock. The former are of less frequent occurrence, but 

 they fatten more quickly. Many graziers consider heifers more kindly 

 in their disposition to feed than steers, particularly when they have 



