68 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



"It is so with all livestock, and especially with young ani- 

 mals, at the period of their most rapid growth. They should 

 not be prematurely forced ; but, on the other hand, they should 

 not be stinted or checked. 



" In the feeding of cattle for market a great deal of practical 

 skill is required, and constant observation of their condition, 

 otherwise they may be surfeited and their appetite destroyed, 

 or their digestive powers be overtasked, and the feed fail of its 

 object. 



" The articles usually employed in fattening cattle are hay 

 and Indian meal, or corn and rye meal mixed, or pease and 

 oats, or oats and corn ground together. Besides this, many 

 farmers are in the practice of giving their stall-fed cattle occa- 

 sionally certain quantities of potatoes. An excellent farmer, 

 of fifty years' experience in the fatting of cattle, is of opinion 

 that potatoes are good feed for fatting cattle in the fall and 

 spring, when the weather is warm; but they do no good in 

 cold weather unless they are cooked. I rely much upon his 

 judgment and experience. The value of potatoes is differently 

 estimated by different individuals ; some considering five bush- 

 els, others rating four bushels, as equivalent to one bushel of 

 corn." 



An extensive cattle-dealer who has tried a variety of mix- 

 tures of feed, such as oats, brown-corn seed, etc., prefers Indian 

 meal to every other feed. He disapproves of excessive feed- 

 ing, and thinks it a great error to give too much. He deems 

 four quarts, with hay, ordinarily enough ; and ten quarts a day 

 sufficient for any animal. He feeds twice a day with great 

 regularity. His present cattle have never received over eight 

 quarts per day each ; and at first putting up, a much less quan- 

 tity. He deems it best to reduce their feed of provender a few 

 days before starting for market. He buys his cattle for feeding 

 in the fall ; and his present stock averaged in the cost seventy- 

 five dollars per pair.* 



* American Fanner's Encyclopedia. 



