50 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



can they make of those cheap foods, and the more cheaply 

 in consequence can they be grown. They can also 

 utilize a few more pounds of ensilage daily than the 

 former, and, where easily obtainable, it should be given 

 to them freely because of its relative cheapness. They 

 can also utilize more field roots, but it may not be 

 profitable to give them more because of relative cost. 

 They should be so fed that even when kept for breed- 

 ing, as with the calves that come in the autumn, the 

 gains should not be less than I to 1% pounds daily dur- 

 ing the whole of the second winter. 



If the cattle are being reared for the block, and are 

 to be finished on grass the following summer, the grain 

 ration fed must be at least somewhat liberal in supply. 

 The amount required will depend, first, upon the fodders 

 fed, and, second, upon the period of the summer at 

 which the animals are to be made ready for the market. 



Should the fodder be leguminous, that is, composed 

 mainly or chiefly of such plants as clover or alfalfa, not 

 more, probably, than half as much concentrates will be 

 wanted as if composed of other fodders, such as corn 

 and straw of the cereals. If corn ensilage, rich in prac- 

 tically mature grain, is fed along with legumes, the con- 

 centrates required will be still further reduced. In fact, 

 with a liberal supply of such corn ensilage, say, 25 

 pounds daily, and this class of fodder, no further feeding 

 of grain may be necessary during the early winter in 

 any event, and only after midwinter, when they are 

 to be finished early on grass. The same will hold true 

 if field roots are fed in quantity somewhat larger, and it 

 is more emphatically true if such corn ensilage and roots 

 are fed togetlier. 



Should the other fodders named be fed alone or in 

 conjunction with such foods as hay from the grasses, 

 as timothy, redtop, Bermuda, and also millet, some 

 grain in addition will prove advantageous and usually 

 profitable, and it should be rich in protein. It may be 



