90  The  Cost  of  Winter  Grazing  in  East  Norfolk. 
per  beast  being  under  21.  Supposing  the  prime  cost  of  the 
store,  together  with  the  expense  of  fattening  it,  came  to  20^., 
and  the  time  taken  in  grazing  it  were  twenty-six  weeks,  and 
the  profit  arising  therefrom  21.  this  would  be  at  the  rate  of 
20  per  cent,  interest  per  annum  ; whereas,  according  to  the 
figures  given  me  for  the  purpose  of  this  inquiry,  the  outlay  on 
bullock  grazing  does  not  yield  6 per  cent,  on  the  average. 
Number  op  Beasts  Grazed  per  Acre  of  Roots. 
I think  it  will  be  of  interest  to  give  the  following  statement 
showing  the  maximum,  minimum,  and  average  weights  and 
values  as  arrived  at  by  a summary  of  the  thirty-two  selected 
returns. 
No.  of  beasts 
grazed 
per  acre 
Estimated  weigbl 
of  roots  per  acre 
Value  of  roots  per 
acre  at  5s.  per  ton 
Actual  net  gain  or  loss 
per  beast 
Maximum  3 
40  tons 
£ s.  d. 
10  0 0 
Maximum  £3  19  4 
Minimum  1 
18  tons 
4 10  0 
(gain) 
Minimum  £2  10  9 
Average  P8 
25  tons 
6 5 0 
(loss) 
Average  £0  8 8 
(gain) 
Stores. 
A comparison  of  the  data  concerning  the  highest  and  the 
lowest  priced  stores,  bears  out  the  generally  received  idea  that 
the  smallest  cattle  take  the  longest  time  to  prepare  for  the 
butcher,  8Z.  stores  being  held  for  twenty-eight  weeks,  whilst 
those  which  cost  16Z.  apiece  went  to  market  at  the  end  of 
eighteen  weeks. 
Some  of  our  most  successful  graziers  endeavour  to  secure 
the  best  possible  stores,  i.e.,  the  largest  and  most  forward  in 
condition,  believing,  according  to  their  own  saying,  that  “ meat 
can  be  bought  cheaper  than  it  can  be  made.”  The  grazier, 
moreover,  can  always  find  a ready  sale  for  such  bullocks  as  he 
cannot  finish  off  for  want  of  sufficient  roots,  it  being  a prevalent 
idea  that  the  first  half  time  of  a beast’s  fattening  is  the  most 
expensive,  and  that  it  is  only  during  the  latter  period  of 
grazing  that  a bullock  begins  to  grow  into  money.  It  may 
appear  so,  if  the  eye  alone  be  taken  as  a guide,  but  all  carefully 
conducted  experiments  have  proved  that  the  last  stones  cost 
most  to  lay  on.  The  success  of  those  graziers  who  believe 
otherwise  probably  depends,  not  upon  the  more  forward  con- 
dition of  the  stores  they  buy,  but  upon  their  own  practical 
judgment  and  skill  in  the  selection  of  animals  that  are  naturally 
