386 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. 



brouglit into a house over-night ; and this also helps to 

 maintain the condition of the stock. The young bulls 

 require and always receive special attention. They are 

 generally kept in an open court, where they have plenty 

 of fresh air, but no draughts, and where they can have 

 constant exercise. Their food consists of a liberal supply 

 of good yellow turnips, as much oat-straw as they can eat, 

 and about 2 lbs. of linseed-cake per day. It has been found 

 advantageous not to allow them to lie or rest on heated 

 dung, as that has a tendency to damage their legs. A 

 ready demand is found for the young bulls at the highest 

 current prices. Young heifers are treated much in the 

 same way as young bulls, except that, unless grass or 

 turnips are scarce, they get little or no cake. They are 

 served when two years old. Cows, as a rule, get a small 

 supply of turnips three times a day in winter and spring, 

 the three meals making about 80 or 9 lbs. Latterly it 

 has been found advantageous to give only about 40 or 

 50 lbs. of turnips, in two meals, supplemented by a mix- 

 ture of about 1 lb. of bran, 1 lb. of crushed oats, and 

 1 lb. of linseed-meal, in a mash of cut straw or chaff. 

 For about three weeks before and three weeks after 

 calving, cows get about 2 lbs. of linseed-cake per day. 

 The over-feeding of breeding stock is studiously avoided, 

 and the result is that the herd has been more than 

 ordinarily prolific. Animals intended for showing pur- 

 poses are of course treated more sumptuously than the 

 other cattle in the herd. 



Mr Hannay of Gavenwood says : " I give nothing to 

 cows beyond a supply of turnips and straw until within 

 six weeks of their calving, when they get 3 lbs. of oilcake 

 daily, and this allowance is usually continued for a month 

 or so after calving. I endeavour to arrange so as to have 

 the calves dropped between the end of December and the 

 middle of April, as the early calves generally thrive best 

 on the grass, and as calving is less dangerous before the 



