THE FEEDING' AND MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE. 455 



larly attractive, nor do they need very close attention at this time; 

 yet the watchful eye of the master should note the development from 

 day to day and see that all the wants are fully supplied. 



STEER FEEDING PASTURES. 



There are two theories in regard to the proper time of turning steers 

 to pasture, each of which seems based on good reasons. That gener- 

 ally advocated by agricultural writers is to keep the stock in the barn 

 and yard on the same food as given during the winter mouths until the 

 pasture^ arc well along and able to furnish an abundance of nutritious 

 grass. Often when stock are turned on such pastures the ration of the 

 feeding stable is cut off at once. The other system is to turn to pasture 

 just as the grass begins to shoot, when the sparse blades are watery 

 and furnish very little nutriment. The lack of food in the pasture 

 forces the stock to rely mainly on what is obtained in the stable to sat- 

 isfy hunger. The first grass is washy and has little nutriment, but has 

 its effect on the digestive system and gradually prepares the animal for 

 the change from grain to pasture. It is a fact that stock often shrink 

 badly when changed from stable to pasture, and I suspect the practice 

 of early turning to grass, at the same time keeping up heavy stable 

 feeding, is better than holding the cattle longer and then turning at 

 once to full pastures. If stock is turned to pasture early, and in any 

 event, let food in abundance be offered them at the stable. It is trouble- 

 some to bring them back to the barn each night, yet it is little atten- 

 tions like these that pay. 



The question of large or small pastures is one frequently discussed. 

 I believe the majority of experienced American feeders are in favor of 

 single ranges rather than numerous small pasture lots. The grasses, 

 both in variety and quality, are never quit<? the same all over a large 

 pasture, and cattle soon learn to detect the little differences and satisfy 

 their like for variety by ranging from one sort of feed to the other. 

 The habit of the herd in large pastures becomes very regular; they 

 will be found in the morning on this side in the valley, a little later 

 o\, i on the hillside, while at noon they are resting at still a third point. 

 Continuity of habit in grazing and feeding conduces to comfort and 

 quiet, and are of great importance to profitable returns. Where the 

 i ires arc cut up into several lots of course the fresh bite which 

 (nines with changing from one lot to another is tempting, but this leads 

 to irregularity and unrest. 



GAINS OF 8TKKKS OK PASTURE. 



I'i of. Morrow, of the Illinois Kxperimont Station, has made some inter- 

 e-ting studies on this point. He reports the gain per head of steers 

 maintained wholly on pasture during the season from May 1 to Novem- 

 ber 1 to be as follows: 



