CHAP. XI. PREPARATION OF CATTLE FOR SHOWS. 195 



The old-fashioned notion was that an animal must have completed 

 its growth before it could be fattened profitably. At the present time, 

 all the improved breeds rival one another in regard to the early period 

 at which they may be fattened. But for this claim, the Sussex cattle 

 would not have emerged from their local obscurity in the depths of the 

 Weald, nor would the Hereford have been found abreast with the 

 Shorthorn upon the ranches of the Far West ; while even that broad- 

 backed beef-making bullock the Polled Aberdeen has come to the front 

 as a quick feeder. It will be seen in the tables for cattle and sheep 

 alike that the highest daily gains in live weight are to be found in the 

 younger classes of animals. In percentages of carcass to gross live 

 weight, comparing the two divisions of steers, there is no decided 

 difference ; and although in this respect the sheep have an advantage 

 over the lambs, it is to be borne in mind that the former were under 

 two years of age. 



As an appropriate conclusion to this chapter we quote from the " North 

 British Agriculturist " the following extract from an article on the pre- 

 paration of cattle for shows, by that experienced and successful feeder, 

 Mr. Wm. Watson, late of Keillor : " Feeding at the present date is 

 more an art than a science. There are hosts of undiscovered facts in 

 regard to it which if known and rightly used would redound to the 

 advantage of stockmen. Much can be learned by taking the monthly 

 live-weight of your cattle. If you have had occasion to make a change 

 of feed the scales will prove truthful, and you can learn at once whether 

 that change has been to your advantage or not. Remember the true 

 feeding value of an article of cattle food can be determined only by 

 actual trial, for in the long run there is no chemist like digestion. 



"In feeding we must all be aware that, as a general rule, farmers 

 make the feeding day too short, consequently the night too long. I 

 mean by that, the animals are only fed three times daily say, at six or 

 seven in the morning, at twelve noon, and between five and six in the 

 evening. Now, cattle to be made the most of -I speak of show cattle 

 especially ought to be fed four times a day, viz., at five A.M., at 

 eleven A.M., at four P.M., and a good hot supper at eight o'clock at 

 night. The ingredients for supper should be the same in substance as 

 those which I am about to detail. The several items should be 

 measured into a pail, adding flax seed and molasses gravy, and over all. 

 let there be a handful of finely-cut hay chaff, so as to absorb all steam. 

 Now, pour on boiling water, and cover well with a sack, so as to 

 prevent evaporation and waste. Before feeding, mix the chaff with 

 the mess. Do this about four o'clock in the afternoon, and the mush 

 will be in a nice milkwarm state for feeding by eight at night. The 

 cattle will eat it greedily, and rest till five the following morning. 

 Always put a little sweet hay beside the animal, so that he may eat if 

 he feels so inclined. If you have a number of cattle in training it will 

 be found most convenient to have a large water-tight feed-box for 

 scalding the meals. 



"The minute sub-division of food enables the stomach to contain at 

 least 25 per cent, moreen quantity than with loose hay or large roots. 



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