FOOD 125 



It is quite possible on some first-class pastures to trust 

 to grass alone for some time to fatten, or to complete 

 fattening, and there are some rich pastures where two sets 

 of cattle may be fattened in one season. Some graziers 

 buy animals they can get rid of in a few months, others 

 are prepared to keep them for eighteen months, and the 

 methods in these two cases of feeding are obviously 

 different. 



Cattle come into the fat market now at a much earlier 

 age than a few years ago. This is secured by good early 

 feeding and never letting them lose their ' calf flesh,' such 

 animals require different treatment from older and poorer 

 cattle purchased for fattening, in which there is no hurry. 



The custom of the part of the country is also an influence, 

 the system is not the same everywhere, depending upon 

 local peculiarities. In the Eastern counties it differs from 

 the West of England, and the North, Midland, and South 

 have each their own methods. 



The facilities afforded by the farm are also an influence, 

 if home-grown crops can be utilized a saving is effected. If 

 much of the food has to be purchased greater latitude is 

 given to the feeder, and another system pursued. 



These facts are mentioned to explain why no hard and 

 fast rules can be adopted, and why no one system is capable 

 of general application. 



For convenience of general description we may divide the 

 subject into two heads, 1, the fattening of home-bred stock, 

 that is the stock raised by the farmer ; 2, the fattening of 

 purchased cattle. 



The early fattening of cattle is a matter of recent intro- 

 duction. A few years ago it was believed that no animal 

 could be properly fattened until it approached maturity, 

 but this is now known to be incorrect, and animals are 

 sent into the market fit for beef at eighteen months to two 

 years' old, with a year's keep saved. 



This early fattening can only be attempted with cattle 

 which have been consistently well fed from birth, with 

 animals the daily weight of which has always been jncreas- 



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