204 VETERINAEY HYGIENE 



previously mentioned, where the advanced bullock is fol- 

 lowed by the lean one, and this again by sheep ; between 

 these three there are no uneaten patches left, for what one 

 rejects the others take. 



In mixed stocking it is disadvantageous to pasture horses 

 with cattle, as owing to their different temperament they 

 are a disturbing and annoying element. 



It is generally believed that a fattening ox requires on 

 moderate pastures two acres, though on prime pastures one 

 acre is more than sufficient. With regard to the number 

 of sheep no definite statement can be made, as so much 

 depends upon the character of the pasture. 



Stating the case broadly, rich pastures should be reserved 

 for fattening stock which is being rapidly brought forward 

 for the butcher, while newer and less rich pastures, which 

 are generally placed on higher ground and away from river 

 valleys, are employed for the store cattle. Sheep may 

 conveniently be pastured on upland pastures, which are 

 less rich and where they do equally well. 



There are certain pastures where suitable cattle fatten on 

 grass alone, and, as mentioned previously, on some of the 

 primest pastures two lots of cattle can be grass fattened in 

 one season. 



If possible, pastures should not be grazed during wet 

 weather, as it may prove destructive to them. Pastures 

 naturally wet should certainly be avoided for sheep during 

 the autumn, when fluke disease is liable to be contracted, 

 and under any circumstances such lands may lead to 

 ' foot-rot.' Animals that have to be pastured on meadows 

 affected with fluke should receive a proportion of dry food 

 daily. 



Bearing in mind that any wet land may get infected with 

 fluke, it is desirable, where wet pastures have to be used, 

 and draining and other measures have done all they can 

 for them, to reserve the driest portion on which no other 

 sheep have grazed that year for the autumn feeding, the 

 wettest portions being hurdled off. The risk of infection is 

 greatly minimized by not allowing the sheep to bite too 

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