68 Domestic ANIMALS. 
“Tt is so with all livestock, and especially with young ani- 
mals, at the period of their most rapid growth. They should 
not be prematurely forced; but, on the other hand, they should 
not be stinted or checked. 
“In the feeding of cattle for market a great deal of practical 
skill is required, and constant observation of their condition, 
otherwise they may be surfeited and their appetite destroyed, 
or their digestive powers be overtasked, and the feed fail of its 
object. 
“The articles usually employed in fattening cattle are hay 
and Indian meal, or corn and rye meal mixed, or pease and 
oats, or oats and corn ground together. Besides this, many 
farmers are in the practice of giving their stall-fed cattle occa- 
sionally certain quantities of potatoes. An excellent farmer, 
of fifty years’ experience in the fatting of cattle, is of opinion 
that potatoes are good feed for fatting cattle in the fall and 
spring, when the weather is warm; but they do no good in 
cold weather unless they are cooked. I rely much upon his 
judgment and experience. The value of potatoes is differently 
estimated by different individuals; some considering five bush- 
els, others rating four bushels, as equivalent to one bushel of 
corn.” = 
An extensive cattle-dealer who has tried a variety of mix- 
tures of feed, such as oats, brown-corn seed, etc., prefers Indian 
meal to every other feed. He disapproves of excessive feed- 
ing, and thinks it a great error to give too much. He deems 
four quarts, with hay, ordinarily enough ; and ten quarts a day 
sufficient for any animal. He feeds twice a day with great 
regularity. His present cattle have never received over eight 
quarts per day each; and at first putting up, a much less quan- 
tity. He deems it best to reduce their feed of provender a few 
days before starting for market. He buys his cattle for feeding 
in the fall; and his present stock averaged in the cost seventy- 
five dollars per pair.* 
* American Farmer's Encyclopedia, 
