190 Animal Husbandry 
a stronger bunk. Such a bunk can be moved from place to 
place. 
310. Self-feeder. — This is a feed box or bin holding a large 
amount of grain and so arranged that part of the grain is accessible 
to the cattle at all times. The great advantage stated for self- 
feeders is that they save labor. They have been used with vary- 
ing success, some cattle feeders using them continuously, others 
using them one or two years and then abandoning them. In 
some localities the self-feeder is common, in others it is not 
known. 
311. Shades.— When there are trees in the pastures, the 
matter of shade need receive no attention, but in the absence of 
natural shade, some provision should be made for it especially 
during the hot, dry weather when the flies aretroublesome. Droves 
of fattening cattle occasionally become so excited, due to the ex- 
cessive heat and flies, that they bunch up or stampede and some- 
times injure one another. 
312. Water. — Fattening cattle must be supplied with an abun- 
dance of fresh water at all times. Many pastures throughout 
the country are not thus supplied. As a rule beef cannot be pro- 
duced economically on such farms. The hotter and dryer the 
weather, the more water the cattle need, and this is just the time 
when there is likely to be a shortage. In the absence of running 
water, perhaps the most efficient source is a good well, equipped 
with a wind pump. When the water is pumped by hand and the 
drove of cattle large, the water supply is likely to be deficient. 
It is also important that the water be fresh and clean. Hot, stale, 
and muddy water, laden with mosquito larve and other im- 
purities, is not fit for cattle to drink. Something better than mud- 
holes should be supplied. 
313. Salt. — This should either be kept before the feeding 
cattle at all times or supplied them regularly twice each week. 
A very good plan is to cut a common salt barrel in two at the mid- 
dle and place one-half where the cattle can have free access to it. 
This should be under a shed, as rain dissolves the salt. 
