214 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



thus leaving us 49s. 6^. for 90 cwt. of roots consumed, or 11s. per 

 ton." 



Brewers' grains are sometimes given to cattle in an acid state ; but 

 distillers' grains differ from them in having a proportion of rye 

 frequently mixed with the malt, rendering them more than naturally 

 sour. Acid mixtures, however, can only be considered as pre- 

 paratory to the more forcing and essential articles of dry food, 

 without which it is impossible that any bullock can acquire the 

 firmness of muscle and fat which is so deservedly considered as 

 the criterion of excellence. Brewers' grains are much used in certain 

 districts for dairy cows. 



The wash, or refuse of malt remaining after distillation, which was 

 formerly applied exclusively to the feeding of swine, has of late years 

 been used with some success in the stall-feeding of cattle. It is 

 conveyed from the distillery in large carts, closely covered and well 

 jointed, in order to prevent leaking. The liquor is then discharged 

 into vats or other vessels ; and when these are about two-thirds filled, 

 a quantity of sweet hay, previously cut small, is immersed in it for two 

 or three days, in order that the wash may imbibe the flavour of the hay 

 before it is used. In this state it is carried to the stalls, poured into 

 troughs, and there eagerly devoured by the cattle. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, the beasts are at first averse to this mixture, in which case 

 it has been recommended to sprinkle their hay with the wash. 

 Thus, having the smell continually before them, and seeing other 

 animals eating with avidity the same compound, they not only 

 gradually become accustomed to it, but begin to relish it and fatten 

 speedily. 



One of the most successful instances recorded of this mode of 

 fattening cattle was that of Messrs. Hodgson and Co., the proprietors 

 of Bolingbroke-house distillery, Battersea, near London. 1 Between 

 October and April they fattened about 450 cattle, having generally 

 about 350 in the house tied up at one time, and 1,00 in an adjoining 

 orchard, which were afterwards taken in to replace those that were 

 sold off. There was no fixed period for fattening these bullocks, that 

 being regulated entirely by the state of the markets ; but from ten to 

 sixteen weeks was the usual time, and the cattle were found to gain, 

 upon an average, the extraordinary weight of from two to three stones 

 per week. Their food was wash, grains, and hay sometimes meadow 

 and at other times clover hay occasionally alternated with oat or 

 barley straw, which was sometimes, although not regularly, cut into 

 chaff. Hay or straw was given to them twice a day, in order that they 

 might ruminate, and they had as much grains and wash as they could 

 eat. In general they readily took to this kiijd of food, but some were 

 four or five days before they lost their aversion to it. 



The stock fattened at the distillery above named consisted of cattle 

 of every sort and size. There were many Scotch cattle, or Kyloes, as 

 well as those reared in Northumberland, Wales, and Herefordshire, 

 but none of the Sussex or Devon breeds, which Messrs. Hodgson 



1 " Malcolm's Compendium," vol. i. p. 355. 



