216 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



straw, given in the intervals of the distribution of the grains. Bullocks 

 varying from forty-five to sixty stones consume about eight or ten 

 stones of carrots or parsnips per day besides an additional quantity 

 of dry provender, that is, in the proportion of one-sixth part of their 

 own weight ; and, as an acre of good carrots will yield 400 bushels, or 

 22,4001b., it would support such an animal 160 days, a period suffi- 

 ciently long for beasts to be kept that have had the summer's grass. 

 If they are half-fat when put to carrots, an acre would probably be suffi- 

 cient to fatten two such beasts. Of potatoes, small cattle such as those 

 of Wales and Scotland eat every day about a bushel per head, in a raw 

 state, with the allowance of a truss of hay divided between four beasts. 

 To an animal of 7 to 8 cwt., from 3 to 6 Ib. of oil cake are given daily, 

 but, where bean-meal is used along with the oil-cake, 3 Ib. of each may 

 be given. A good allowance to each beast during winter will be 75 

 to 90 Ib. of turnips, 14 to 20 Ib. of hay, and 3 Ib. each of oil-cake and 

 bean-meal. Mr. Kennedy gives a bullock of 7 cwt. 60 to 70 Ib. of 

 swedes daily, and from 16 to 20 Ib. of cooked food ; 1 Ib. of linseed or 

 2 Ib. of linseed meal, boiled into mucilage, and mixed with 2 Ib. of 

 bean meal, 2 Ib. bruised barley or oats, 10 to 12 ]b. of cut hay, 14 Ib. 

 of straw chaff and some salt, being the ingredients of the cooked food. 

 The whole, when mixed, is allowed to lie for some hours till the dry 

 portions absorb the mucilage. Wherever it can be conveniently 

 arranged, the animals should not be confined to one sort of food. To 

 mingle the food judiciously benefits the beasts and saves the farmer 

 money ; for an animal will thrive better and cost less if fed on hay, 

 turnips, and oil-cake, given in the proportions of one part cake, four 

 parts hay, and seven parts turnips, than he would if suffered to eat the 

 whole amount in one only of these ingredients. 



Whatever articles of food may be given, they should be apportioned 

 with as much regard to regularity of time and quantity as is practicable ; 

 and if a portion of it is at any time left unconsumed, it should be 

 removed before the next meal, otherwise the beast ,will possibly refuse 

 or loathe his food. 



In stall-feeding it is too common a practice to give a certain allowance 

 every day, without regard to circumstances ; but it is well known that 

 a fattening beast will eat with a keener appetite on a cold day than in 

 warm, damp weather ; and his food should be proportioned accordingly. 

 By giving the same quantity every day, the animal may be cloyed. 

 His appetite will become impaired, the food will be wasted, and several 

 days will pass before he feeds heartily again. Three periods, at least, 

 of the day, and as nearly equidistant as possible, should be selected as 

 the feeding hours, when only such an allowance should be given to 

 each animal as he can eat with good appetite. As he fattens, his 

 appetite will probably become more delicate, and he will require more 

 frequent feeding, and the food in smaller quantities ; thus the beast 

 will improve progressively and uniformly, while only a trifling quantity 

 of the food will be lost. In proportion to the nutritive matter con- 

 tained in the food, the animal will generally be found to improve ; 

 and in order that this important branch of rural economy may be 



