170 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



In well-arranged stalls there are shutters which may be used when- 

 ever the weather is inclement, and the cattle and stalls are regularly 

 cleaned and attended to. 



"Mr. Dobito," as we have elsewhere remarked, "is a great advocate 

 for the stall-feeding system for ordinary purposes. He does not 

 recommend it, however, for young beasts that are to be summered 

 again, or for prize oxen. The young beasts should have well-sheltered 

 yards, with high fences, to keep them from looking over, and good- 

 shelter-sheds. The prize oxen should be housed in loose boxes, with 

 plenty of room in each for the animal to walk about in. If well 

 arranged, Mr. Dobito says that there is no system equal to that of 

 stall-feeding ; it is the abuse of it which has got it into disrepute with 

 some. The fattening-house should be well paved and provided with 

 surface drains to carry off the liquid manure into tanks provided for its 

 reception. Shutters should be placed in the walls to regulate the heat, 

 and wide passages at their heads to clean the mangers and feed them 

 readily. The advantages of the stall-feeding system are the small 

 quantity of litter required, which makes the manure better, the easy 

 regulation of the temperature, and the quiet secured to the animal, so 

 that it can eat its share in peace. The disadvantage is, that the animal 

 cannot freely rub or lick itself : this, however, is got over by using the 

 round brush, which is recommended. 



" Mr. Dobito thinks that stall-feeding is not commenced early enough. 

 As soon as the weather becomes damp and the days shorten, say in 

 October, the grass begins to lose its fattening properties ; the sooner, 

 therefore, your stock is housed the better. When put up thus early they 

 receive turnips. Along with the turnips they have given to them half a 

 stone of pollard or bran, with an equal quantity of hay or straw chaff. 

 The bran, although considered loosening, Mr. Dobito finds to have the 

 singular property of preventing the loosening action of the watery 

 turnips. This style of feeding, although it does not fatten the beasts, 

 yet brings them into the condition best fitted to enable them to make 

 the most of that artificial style of living which is to take them through 

 the winter. 



" Early in November the food is to be changed to swedes, oil- 

 cake, &c., in the following rations : Morning's meal,' one bushel of 

 swedes, well cleaned from dirt, cut small by machine ; then, the refuse 

 pieces being well cleaned out, a dry bait consisting of 2 Ib. of oil-cake, 

 3 Ib. of pollard, and a little hay chaff. While feeding, the manure and 

 litter to be cleared, the floor swept clean, and plenty of fresh litter put 

 in : every bullock is then to be well brushed with a dandy-brush, that 

 is, a brush made with whalebone. After all this, the animals are to be 

 left quiet till after dinner, when another bushel of swedes is to be 

 given to them in small quantities, followed by a dry bait of cake, 

 pollard, and chaff, with the addition of 31b. of bean-meal: this is left 

 with them at night. The shutters should be closed or opened according 

 to circumstances, the object being to maintain an even temperature 

 warm without inducing perspiration. It is essential to have the 



