GENERAL CARE OF CATTLE. 327 



stabling them during the day. If the stables 

 are very hot the calves will not thrive and a 

 compromise may be made by putting them in 

 any convenient shed which is capable of giving 

 shelter from the sun and a circulation of air. 

 The open' air and plenty of exercise I regard as 

 one of the prime factors in making thrifty, 

 vigorous animals. 



As the calves approach a year old those that 

 are the best feeders will begin to take on too 

 much flesh for a good breeding condition on the 

 liberal feeding herein advocated. This is espe- 

 cially true of the heifers. As soon as this 

 appears to be the case they should be fed only 

 once a day if on good pasture, or if confined 

 principally or entirely to in-door feeding the 

 supply should be gradually reduced to such an 

 amount as will keep up strong, steady growth 

 without causing too much fat-production. The 

 young animals want solid growth, bone, muscle 

 and general lean meat-production at this period, 

 without the addition of any surplus flesh. The 

 heifers need to be watched with special care as 

 they grow to be from fifteen to eighteen months 

 old and approach the time when they are to be 

 bred. It is particularly desirable that they 

 should come to this time in as natural a physi- 

 cal condition as possible. Obesity, overheated 

 'state of the blood from an excessive corn diet or 

 an over-supply of other heating food, and other 



