304 



Production of Meat on Pastures. 



[July, 



3. Would sheep be grazed in addition to cattle in the summer or 

 autumn months? If so, what number and what increase in weight per 

 head would be expected? 



4. Would the field carry any stock during the winter months? If so, 

 what class of stock and what numbers? 



Seven replies to this schedule of questions were returned. As 

 the inquiry was made through private channels I shall not refer 

 to the correspondents by name, but take this opportunity of 

 acknowledging my indebtedness to them for the care they took 

 in supplying full answers to the questions, and for explaining 

 the particulars in which their own practice did not fit in exactly 

 with the conditions assumed in the questions. 



The correspondents were asked to provide estimates of the 

 live increase that would be made by grazing animals and this 

 they did. I am responsible for estimating the quantity of meat 

 which these live weight gains should represent, and in changing 

 from live to carcass increase the percentages used in my original 

 paper have been adhered to. In this connection it may be noted 

 that there is very little evidence available as to the probable 

 percentage of carcass to live gain in the case of bullocks fattened 

 on grass; and, from the percentage of carcass which such cattle 

 yield when slaughtered, some may be disposed to consider that 

 my figure of 60 per cent, for summer increase is too high; it 

 should be observed therefore that the cattle fed on these rich 

 pastures are in very good condition when they are turned out to 

 grass, and that the subsequent live increase represents a much 

 higher percentage of carcass than it would in the case of lean 

 stores. 



Reduced to figures the seven estimates were as follows : — 



Table I. 



Total Live Increase, Carcass Increase, 





lb. per acre. 



lb. per acre. 



A 



372 



217 



B 



340 



198 



C 



310 



183 



D 



297 



172 



E 



280 



162 



F 



271 



155 



G 



263 



154 



Average A — G ... 



305 



177 



Do. A— D 



330 



192 



Do. D— G 



278 



161 



Original Estimate 



330 



190 



The average of all seven estimates works out at 305 lb. live 

 increase per acre, equivalent to about 177 lb. of meat; the 



