CATTLE ONE YEAR OLD SUMMER AND WINTER 45 



That ruggedness shall be maintained and, if pos- 

 sible, strengthened in animals that are kept for breed- 

 ing, is still more important, hence, though confined at 

 night and in stormy days, they should have abundant op- 

 portunity for exercise at other times. With no class of 

 cattle is inherent ruggedness more important than with 

 animals intended for the dairy. This arises, first, from 

 ■the heavy strain to which the digestive organs are to 

 be subjected through feeding large quantities of meal ; 

 second, from the succession of years through which such 

 feeding is continued; and, third, from the highly 

 artificial conditions as to confinement and temperature 

 to which animals in milk are subjected. The main- 

 tenance and development of ruggedness in these, there- 

 fore, should be the constant aim from birth until the 

 period of lactation is reached. Because of this, freedom 

 to exercise at all times with animals of this class will 

 probably be advantageous. This would mean that they 

 would not be housed in closed sheds. Something might 

 thus be lost in growth and something also in food, but 

 there would doubtless be compensation in increased 

 hardihood. 



With ample space, there are no serious objections 

 to keeping the animals in stalls over night, further than 

 that which arises from the extra labor that is entailed 

 in caring for them, and the less degree of exercise they 

 are able to take. The first is an important objection in 

 a country in which such labor is relatively high. But 

 it is a matter of considerable importance that they shall 

 be fed in stanchions while they are eating meal or roots 

 given to them, so that each may get its rightful share. 

 For the pattern of stanchions see page 372. 



If the fodder is fed in the mangers connected with 

 the stanchions, these should be left open, except when 

 meal and roots are being consumed. Even in mild 

 climates it will be advantageous to feed such food in 

 stanchions except in stormy weather. It ma}- ht fed 



