536 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



GRASS FED CATTLE. 



During a few years past there has existed 

 among the cattle raisers of the Champlain Valley 

 a spirit of rivalry or emulation in the production 

 of good beef on hay and grass alone. Among 

 other cattle from that section, last week, our re- 

 porter mentioned a lot of three-year-old steers, 

 marketed by C. T. Houghton, raised by Ed. Wil- 

 cox of Bridport, and sold at 13c per lb., which the 

 seller regarded as rather below the market price 

 for like quality, as the lot was partially engaged 

 the week previous. A few weeks since Mr. 

 Houghton sold a carload from the same pasture 

 to Mr. J. S. Thomas, who had the same week extra 

 Western steers for which he paid 10c per pound, 

 live weight, in Albany. The meat of some of 

 these Vermont steers was hung up with that of 

 those from Albany. While one of Mr. Thomas's 

 customers was examining this beef and admitting 

 its superior quality, he was told that a part of it 

 was from Vermont grass fed cattle that had 

 never eaten any grain or meal, and was asked to 

 point out the sides from the grass fed animals. 

 After looking them over carefully, he admitted 

 his inability to do so. 



Our reporter also noticed in his report of Aug. 

 20, a pair of oxen fatted by Thomas Field, Ferris- 

 burg, Vc, and sold by F. F. Brady to S. S. Learn- 

 ard, at 14^0 per lb., when 14c, 30 sk, was the high- 

 est price reported for Western steers. The hides 

 averaged 110 lbs. each; one had 168 pounds of 

 tallow and 1336 pounds of beef— total dressed 

 weight 1608 lbs. ; the other, 160 pounds of tallow, 

 1052 lbs. of beef, and a total of 1322 lbs., making 

 the dressed weight of the pair 2930 lbs. These 

 oxen were purchased by Mr. Field four years ago, 

 when cattle were very high for $200, and did not 

 weigh probably over 2500 pounds at that time. 

 They had been worked carefully every year until 

 the past season. They were sold to Mr. Wheeler 

 for $375, and weighed 4330 pounds when delivered. 

 These oxen were fattened entirely on grass and 

 hay. 



While in Vergennes, a few weeks since, enjoying 

 the hospitality of Ed. Wheeler, Esq., he car- 

 ried us over to the farm of Mr. Field, some two 

 miles from the city. We arrived too late in the 

 day to visit his pastures, or to examine his build- 

 ings particularly. But from his residence, which 

 is situated on a gentle elevation, we had a delight- 

 ful view of a portion of the 950 acres which com- 

 pose this farm. There had been a shower the 

 night previous, and the meadow in front of the 

 house, which stretched west across a gentle de- 

 pression, showed a cheerful green in the rays of 

 the sun that was then sinking behind the Adiron- 

 dac range of mountains, which was in very pleas- 

 ing contrast with the brown and parched appear- 

 ance of the country generally at that time. The 

 soil of Ferrisburg is probably equal to that of any 

 other town in the Champlain Valley for the produc- 

 tion of grass. 



Besides the oxen above mentioned Mr. Field 

 has sent some 40 three year- old steers to Cam- 

 bridge this season, which have commanded the 

 highest market price. And the immediate object 

 of our call was to learn the means by which such 

 beef was produced without meal or grain, which 

 we were assured had not been fed to his cattle. 



Mr. Field usually keeps about 100 cattle, but he 

 is careful not to overstock his pastures or his hay- 

 mows. He regarded it as essential that all ani- 

 mals in his possession should be constantly gain- 

 ing. He was unab:e to see any profit in keeping 

 a beast one year, six months, or one month with- 

 out increase in size or quality. Hence feed and 

 care must be such as to secure constant improve- 

 ment, winter and summer, spring and fall. His 

 hay is cut somewhat earlier than is usual with 

 most of his neighbors. By the first of July he 

 intends to have made a good beginning at haying, 

 and by the end of that month to have the last load 

 from bis 250 acres mowed over, in the barns. A 

 few years ago he said he was laughed at for cutting 

 grass "before it was half grown," but of late hay 

 generally in that section has been cut considerably 

 earlier than formerly. In reply to an inquiry he 

 said that the only injury to grass land from early 

 cutting that he had noticed, was in case a severe 

 drought followed the removal of the grass, when 

 there was some danger of injury to the roots. 



In raising calves, his practice is to feed new milk 

 about two weeks, when that which is skimmed 

 after setting twelve hours is substituted. But 

 whichever or whatever is given them must be of 

 sufficient quality and quantity to keep them grow- 

 ing. During the first winter especially, they must 

 be kept in a thrifty condition. 



Mr. Field regarded the gentle treatment of all 

 stock, of great, importance. It was understood be- 

 tween him and his hired men, that abuse of ani- 

 mals from loss of temper or patience was closely 

 associated with loss of situation ; and he related 

 some amusing instances in which his oxen, while 

 under the care of fractious teamsters, had been 

 stung by apocryphal hornets and bumble bees! 

 Such excuses were "good for this trip only." 



It would seem, then, as Mr. F. remarked to us 

 at the outset, that there is no secret about making 

 good beef on grass and hay ; enough of both of 

 good quality, with proper management, will do it. 

 Some grass fed three-year-old steers were sold tho 

 last week at market for #33 each ; others for f 120. 

 In which class is there the most money ? 



—Milwaukee is the greatest grain market in the 

 world. It has six large elevators, able to hold 

 from half a million to a million and a half bushels. 

 Yet last week five hundred cars were standing in 

 the freight yards and on the tracks of the city, un- 

 able to discharge tiieir wheat. This immense glut 

 is from old wheat, and the merchants estimate 

 that there are a million more bushels of tie crop 

 of 1869 to come. 



