382 
Foiled Aberdeen and Angus Cattle. 
which is perhaps the most valuable herd of the breed in exist- 
ence, an admirable system of management is pursued. The 
calving season is made up of December and three following 
months, but it often happens that cows fall behind. As a rule, 
the calves are allowed to suckle their dams for about six months. 
When housed, most of the cows are kept in loose-boxes, each 
cow having a box to herself and her calf. At weaning, calves 
are very carefully attended to. They are generally trained to 
eat linseed-cake before being weaned, and every possible effort 
is made to retain the calf-flesh, and not allow them to fall off 
after losing the milk of their dams. When the cold autumn 
evenings commence, care is taken to have all the cattle, at any 
rate all the young cattle, brought 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, the average for last year's 
crop having been about 43/. a head. 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 90 lbs. Latterly it has been found 
advantageous to give only about 40 or 50 lbs. of turnips, in 
two meals, supplemented by a mixture 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 purposes are of course 
treated more sumptuously than the other cattle in the herd. 
To these general notes, indicating the system of management 
pursued by a number of leading breeders, little need be added. 
It will have been gathered that calves are, as a rule, dropped 
between the 1st of December and the end of April; and that 
the prevailing custom is to let the calves suckle their dams for 
six or eight months. A small quantity, from half a pound to a 
pound, of linseed-meal is usually given to calves each day for 
