CHAP. i. CATTLE CALENDAR. 1037 



Fattening beasts nearly ready for the butcher should be finished off 

 with their maximum allowance of these nutritious foods. Place a lump 

 of rock-salt in each pasture, so that the animals may go to it whenever 

 they wish. 



JUNE. 



Young as well as Store Cattle are now put out to pasture. Those of 

 the latter class, approaching the period when they will be drafted to 

 supply the place of fattening beasts sold off, should have an allowance of 

 oil-cake given them, beginning with two pounds, or even less, daily, 

 according to their condition. Those of the young stock which are 

 backward and making but slow progress should have the same. When 

 cake is low in price, from Ql. to 81. per ton, the improvement it 

 effects on the animals will repay the outlay ; at the same time the 

 pastures will be benefited. Pastures as a rule require improving, and 

 this is one of the best ways of treating them. Change the pasture 

 fields in the cases of both classes from time to time ; a fortnight to 

 three weeks at the most being a fair period for any one field to be 

 occupied. 



The same remarks apply to Fattening Stock out at grass, which should 

 in all cases have their allowance of oil-cake or meal. Where they are 

 stall-fed, the grass cut for a portion of their food should be mown in 

 small portions at a time only, so that it may be fresh and sweet. The 

 green forage food, as vetches, &c., &c., will now be in good condition. 

 Add salt in all cases, and the animals stall-fed should have a lump of 

 rock-salt in their mangers. See that the drinking-ponds and troughs 

 in the fields are clean, well supplied, and in good order. As the cattle 

 become fit for the butcher they should be drafted out and sold, and 

 as the grass becomes scarce the rest of the stock will have to be 

 diminished in number, so that, as a rule, it is not necessary to buy 

 in many to fill up their places. 



JULY. 



Store cattle and young stock will take the places of the fat cattle as 

 they are sold off. If keep falls short it will be an advantage to cast 

 out any mangel which may be left on hand ; failing this, cabbages 

 and kale will be equally good for the purpose. Vetches and clover are 

 also very valuable, and a good supply should always be in readiness, 

 for they prevent the loss which inevitably results if a forced sale has 

 to be made. Change the pastures frequently. All cut food and oil- 

 cake should be given in feeding racks, and never thrown or strewn upon 

 the surface of the grass, a practice which results in waste of much of 

 the material through being trampled, breathed, and " voided " upon. 

 Keep all classes of pastured stock free, if possible, from the attacks of 

 flies and insects, for injurious effects of which on the health and 

 condition see detailed remarks in the Text. As the weather is generally 

 hot take care that the animals have a constant supply of water. 



When stall-fed, fattening cattle should have their cut food given m 

 small portions at a time, fresh and sweet, and with frequent changes as 



