516 
REARING OE CATTLE. 
happening to the animals, from choking or hoving, during 
the night. The water is supplied to each yard in cast-iron 
troughs, which are fed by pipes, with ball-cocks, leading from 
higher ground or from elevated casks, to which the water is 
raised by a force-pump. One trough of five or six feet in length 
supplies two yards, by being placed across the subdivision 
walls. The troughs require to be cleansed out occasionally, 
in order to remove the earthy sediment that falls to the bottom. 
This purpose is effected by a plug-hole in the end of the trough 
by which the watery sediment escapes, to which it is driven by 
a brush in the hand, and assisted by the trough being placed 
with a gentle inclination to the end which contains the plug-hole. 
The troughs are most convenient when the sides are shelving. 
The young cattle are treated yearly in the manner above 
described, till the third winter, w'hen the animals will be 
three years and a half old; and then the fattening process 
commences. The animals are arranged by the 1st of 
November in the feeding yards, in lots of two, and not more 
than four together; it being a universal rule that, the smaller 
the number of animals that feed together, the better they thrive. 
Accordingly, many most eminent writers have recommended, 
and many very eminent practitioners have adopted, the 
mode of confining the animals “singly;” but the most general 
practice is, two or four together. The yards must be dry, 
have good shelter-sheds, and a regular supply of water. 
Cattle eating turnips ad libitum do not drink much water; 
but it is better that they have the liberty of taking or refusing 
it. In these yards the cattle are supplied daily with fresh 
turnips, and in quantity as many as they can consume, so as 
not to leave any part to be wasted or reduced to a loss. 
Fresh straw and hay are given daily in the cribs. In the 
spring, in February and March, one feed of oil-cake is 
given daily, which hastens the process of fattening, and 
improves the quality of the dung, by enriching the excrements 
of the animal. The space of three months may be stated, 
at a general calculation, as the time required to render an 
animal that is treated in the above manner fat or fit to be 
slaughtered. But very much, if not all, depends on the 
grazing state of the animal; for, if it comes from the pasture- 
field to the feeding-yard in a lean state, double the above- 
mentioned time will be required to bring the animal into even 
a medium state of maturity. Hence arises the necessity of 
keeping the animals always in a forward, fresh condition 
during the years of their early growth. When a more ample 
supply of food is given to an animal in this state, the fattening 
process commences immediately, because, all the parts of the 
