48 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



oats and vetches. A little flax in the mixture, where it 

 can be grown, will further improve it. Wliich shall be 

 grown must be determined by the conditions. When 

 food is thus grown and fed, it serves as fodder and 

 grain without threshing or grinding, and renders it un- 

 necessary to purchase such foods, when they may be 

 grown in sufficient quantities. 



Ensilage and field roots are about the only classes 

 of succulent foods which it is practicable to furnish to 

 cattle that are housed in winter, whatever may be their 

 age. Of these, ensilage is usually the cheaper, but not 

 the more valuable in promoting development. Either 

 will serve a good purpose in helping to keep the diges- 

 tion in tone, more particularly in the absence of oilcake, 

 but of the two for such a use field roots are decidedly 

 the superior. A\'here both can be fed. the most satisfac- 

 tory results are likely to follow, when cost and thrift 

 are both taken into account. 



The amount of either to feed will be dependent in 

 a considerable degree upon the other foods that may be 

 available ; but where ensilage may be had in plentiful 

 supply the aim should be to use it up to the limit of 

 the capacity of the animals to take it safely unless dry 

 fodders should be on hand that, if not fed, would be 

 wasted. In such an event, but a limited amount of 

 ensilage should be given. The limit for safe feeding 

 for such animals may be put at about 20 pounds daily 

 for prolonged feeding, but this will vary. In feeding 

 field roots, the aim should be to feed minimum amounts 

 that will effect the end sought. From 25 to 30 pounds 

 daily would probably be maximum amounts, but it will 

 seldom be necessary, or profitable, to feed more than 

 15 pounds daily, and even 5 to 10 pounds will have an 

 appreciably favorable influence on development. For 

 animals so young, the roots should be sliced or pulped. 

 If both ensilage and roots are fed, it will be more con- 



