found, that an ox will eat something less than one be regulated best by attending duly to the state of fifth per diem, of his own weight of cabbages. the weather, or season, and the progress he makes Fattening beasts require about eighteen stone of in flesh, for as he fattens, his appetite will become common turnips daily, besides an adequate allow-more delicate, and he will require more frequent ance of dry meat to counteract the superabundant feeding, in smaller quantities; thus the beast will moisture of these roots. An acre of twenty-five improve progressively and uniformly, while a tritons, therefore, will fatten a beast of sixty stone, fling loss of food only can occur by such method. or something more. For middle-sized animals a In proportion to the nutritive matter contained in bushel or a bushel and a half, of distillers' or the food, the animal will generally be found to adbrewers' grains will be sufficient, if combined with vance;* and in order that this important branch of an ample portion of cut hay, chaff, or bean straw, rural economy may be properly conducted, the given between the intervals of allotting the grains. young grazier will find it serviccable to weigh Bullocks varying from forty-five to sixty stone, each beast once a fortnight, at the least, before he consume about eight or ten stone of carrots or gives the morning allowance, by which he will be parsnips per diem, beside an additional quantity enabled to form an accurate estimate of the real of dry provender; that is in the proportion of one- progress his cattle make in thriving. If they do sixth part of their own weight; and, as a good not continue to advance, according to the result of acre of carrots will yield 400 bushels, or 22,400 former weighings, it will be necessary to change lbs. it would support such an ox 160 days, a period their food; and as bullocks will take less meat every sufficiently long for beasts to be kept that have week after their kidneys are covered with fat, it had the summer's grass. If they are half fat will be even well to weigh them once a week, as when put to carrots, an acre would probably be a more adequate idea of their thriving may thus sufficient to fatten two such beasts. Of potatoes, be formed: thus, supposing an ox to consume food small cattle (such as those of Wales and Scot- to the value of 9d. per day, or 5s. 3d. per week, land) eat every day about one bushel per head, in and that the price of beef at markets is 4s. 6d. per a raw state, with an allowance of one truss of hay stone of eight pounds, the return he makes for his divided between four beasts. To an animal of keep may be readily calculated. eighty or one hundred stone, eight to ten pounds of pulverized oil-cake are given each day, with half a stone, or one stone of cut hay, in addition, every day, for seven or eight weeks, which allotment of cake is then usually increased to twelve or fifteen pounds, until the animal is sufficiently fat for sale.* Of equal, if not superior, importance with regularity in feeding is cleanliness, a regard to which is admitted, by all intelligent breeders, to be one of the most essential requisites to the prosperity of cattle. Hence not only ought they to be supplied with abundance of pure water, but also, whenever they are brought into the stalls, either from pasture or from work, their feet ought to be washed, lest any filth should remain there and soften their hoofs. Frequent washing after hard labor, or at Although as we have just seen, animals have been not uncommonly supposed to consume a quantity of food in proportion to their weight, yet this is purely theoretical; for, in fact, various ex-least once in the week, should be performed; and, periments have proved that though small cattle may be supported on pastures that will not carry heavy beasts, and also on more indifferent soiling food, yet, when put up to fatten, the difference is of no account in proportion to their weight: though cattle of the same weight and breed will sometimes consume different quantities. In proof of this, it may be observed that the London cowkeepers, who have large numbers of different size, supply an equal quantity to each. But whatever articles of food may be given, they ought to be apportioned with as much regard to regularity of time and quantity as is practicable; and if any small part be at any time left unconsumed, it should be removed before the next feed is given, otherwise the beast will loath it. In stall-feeding, it is too common a practice to give a certain allowance, every day, without regard to any circumstance, but it is a fact, that a fattening beast will eat with a keener appetite on a cold day than in warm, damp weather; hence his food ought to be proportioned accordingly. By giving the same quantity every day, the animal may be cloyed; thus his appetite becomes impaired, the food is wasted, and several days will necessarily elapse before he can recover it. Hence, at least three periods of the day, as nearly equidistant as possible, should be selected, when such an allowance should be given to each animal as he can eat with a good appetite; which point can *See the quantities consumed by different cattle, Chap. II., and Appendix No. I. though the practice of currying and combing, or of friction with brushes, cannot perhaps be adopted where the beasts are numerous, yet, we conceive, they might be often rubbed with a wisp of straw to considerable advantage. The mangers and stalls should likewise be kept as clean as possible; and the former, if they cannot often be washed, should be cleared every morning from dust and filth, which may be easily effected by means of a common, blunt-pointed bricklayer's trowel: they otherwise acquire a sour and offensive smell from the decay of vegetable matter left in them, which nauseates the cattle, and prevents their feeding. After the stalls have been cleansed by constantly removing the dung and sweeping the pavement, a sufficient quantity of fresh litter ought to be strewed over, which will invite them to lie down; for nothing contributes more to expedite the fattening of cattle than moderate warmth, ease and repose. In fact, where straw can be obtained at a moderate price, supposing the farm does not yield an adequate supply for this purpose, the stalls and farmyards ought always to be well littered, especially during the winter season. The quantity of manure thus made is an essential object; for it has been found that forty-five oxen, littered, while fatting, with twenty wagonloads of stubble, have made two hundred loads, each three tons, the greatest and most valuable portion of which would have been lost, had it not been mixed with, and absorbed by, the straw. *See Book IX. Chap. VI. Every load of hay and litter, given to beasts fatting on oil-cake, yield at least ten tons of dung; and, on comparing the dung obtained by feeding with oil-cake with that of the common farm-yard, it has been found, that the effects produced by spreading twelve loads of the former on an acre, considerably exceeded those of twenty-four loads of the latter manure. It is, in fact, invariably found that the value of the manure is in proportion to the nutriment contained in the aliment. By another trial it appears, that thirty-six cows and four horses, when tied up, ate fifty tons of hay, and had twenty acres* of straw for litter; they made two hundred loads of dung, in rotten order for the land:-a difference in weight which is accounted for by the absorption of moisture by straw. Of the sale of neat calile. of raising money to meet the demands of the close of the year. Hence the attentive grazier, who has sufficient capital to hold over his stock, will find it most beneficial, at this time, to dispose only of such part of it as, being then thoroughly fat, consequently would not pay for any longer keeping; and the increase of prices, in the spring, will generally be found to repay him. Beasts are chiefly driven to London for sale; and, where the distance from the metropolis is very considerable, they are liable to many accidents on the road, besides their diminution in point of weight, which, even under the eye of the most attentive drivers, are often unavoidably incurred; while the fluctuation of the markets renders his risk very considerable. It will, therefore, be advisable, where it can be conveniently or advantageously effected, to dispose of fat stock in such markets as are in the vicinity of, or at an easy distance from the farm. In drawing off lots of cattle for sale, it is the Having now stated the leading facts and experiments that have been made on the subject of feed-general practice to dispose of the fattest animals, and to keep those which do not fatten kindly for ing and fattening neat cattle, we shall conclude additional exertions. Such procedure may, indeed, the subject with a few remarks on the sale of be admitted to a certain extent, if the food provided beasts, when properly fattened for that purpose. In be not expensive; but, if the beasts are reserved order to ascertain this point, the following hints for corn or cake-feeding, or if the supply of other may, perhaps, afford some criterion. First, when food is precarious or limited, it is highly questionthe general appearance of the animal shows high able. As soon as a grazier is fully convinced that condition, and each bone is covered with flesh in he has a beast which is not kindly disposed to the manner required to constitute a perfect shape, take on fat, or is an ill-doer, the first loss is obit may be concluded that the beast is well fed; esviously the best, and he should dispose of the unthrifpecially when his hip-bones, or, as they are sometimes termed, his huckle-bones, are round, his ribs ty animal the earliest opportunity. smooth and not sharp, his flanks full, and cod round. When these marks are perceptible, the beast may be handled, and his lowermost ribs felt; if the skin be kindly or mellow, that is, soft yet firm to the touch, it is certain that he is well fed outwardly, or in other words, upon the bones. Next, the hand may be laid upon his huckle-bones, and if they likewise feel soft, round, and plump, it may be safely concluded that the animal is well fed, both externally and internally; that is, both in flesh and tallow. He may then be handled at the setting on of his tail, which, if it be thick, full, and soft to the touch, is also an indication that the beast is well fed externally; the same circumstance is likewise evinced by the nach-bones, which lie on either side of the setting on of his tail, feeling mellow, or soft and loose. Lastly, the cod may be examined, if an ox, or the navel of a cow, and if they respectively feel thick, round, large, and plump, it is a certain criterion that the beast is well tallowed within; and, when any of these parts or members handle contrary to the rules above mentioned, a contrary judgement must be formed. tle for slaughter is by lots; and, in this case, to In the country, a common mode of selling catprevent dispute between the parties, care should be taken to fix the precise time in which any particular lot is to be drawn, in order that no unnecessary food may be consumed. Formerly it was, and even now, in some places, it is usual to sell by the eye, a method which is certainly unequal as it respects both the farmer and the butcher; for the former unless he has been accustomed to weigh his beasts during the progressive stages of their fattening, can form at best but an uncertain idea of their weight; while the latter, from his continual practice, is enabled to form a tolerably accurate estimate. Hence some have killed a beast out of rage weight of animals in such lot; but, in order a particular lot, with a view to ascertain the aveto induce a perfect equality between the buyer and seller, it would be better to dispose of every beast by weight, which can be easily ascertained by the steel-yard, and this mode is now coming into use. It is not, however, sufficient to ascertain the weight of a living fatted beast, or bullock. DifBut, after all the attention and labor which the their value: and there is a rule for ascertaining the ferent parts of the same animal are different in grazier may bestow, his hopes are liable to be frus- proportion of these various parts, by which their trated, in some measure at least, unless he select a proper time for the disposing of his fat cattle. The weight may be known with almost equal certainty most common season for beef is from Michaelmas as the weight of the whole beast. It is, however, to Christmas; but the markets are then more abun-necessary to premise, that the following proportions are calculated chiefly for Scotch cattle; but, dantly and more cheaply supplied than at any as great numbers of these are fattened in Engother period, because cattle which have been fat- land, we trust the annexed hints will be found tened on luxuriant pasture grounds, are then ready useful. for sale, and many farmers are under the necessity +This is an inaccurate mode of stating the quantity; but it may be assumed at about half the weight of the hay, or twenty-five tons. The four quarters constitute half the weight of the bullock; the skin is the eighteenth part; the tallow the twelfth part; making twenty-three thirty-sixths, or about two-thirds of the whole; the remaining third part, or a little more, is composed of the head, feet, tripe, blood, &c. which offals lowed to the butcher, the remainder will prove to never sell by weight, but as a certain proportion be the weight of the four quarters. Thus, if a of the weight of the beast. They commonly farmer has occasion to ascertain the value of a call produce from 15s. to 20s. according to the price at 8d. per pound: properly securing him so as not of meat, supposing the bullock to weigh about to hurt the beast, he weighs him with scales or 100 stone of fourteen lbs. live weight. These steel-yard, or in a weighing-machine, and finds particulars being adjusted, the next point, which the weight to be ten score, or 200 lbs. From this the seller is to ascertain is the market-price of weight let eighty pounds, or eight pounds from butcher's meat, tallow, and hides. Supposing the each score, be deducted; the remainder will be bullock to be sold is seventy-two stone living 120 lbs. the weight of the four quarters very nearweight,* the four quarters make thirty-six stone, ly; which at 8d. per pound, will be £4 and so of which, at 8s.† per stone, amount to £14 8s. The any other weight or price. As this rule will not, hide may be worth 36s.; and the tallow, being in general, vary more than four ounces, or half a 8s. 4d. the stone of 14lbs., is worth £2 10s. ster-pound in a quarter or side, it will be found to anling. The offals, according to the proportion above swer sufficiently well for the purpose. stated, will give 15s.; and, by that computation, Such are the rules by which the live-weight of the value of the bullock is £19 9s.; which answers cattle is commonly estimated; but, that they are to nearly 5s. 6d. per stone, live-weight. And there- not always to be relied on, will be sufficiently exfore, if a butcher agree to give that sum per stone, emplified by the following statement of the live no more is necessary to ascertain the price of the and dead weights, and proportion of offal, of six whole carcass than to weigh the beast. oxen of different breeds. They have been selectWith regard to fat calves, we should observe ed without regard to a comparison between the that, in general by weighing the animal alive at breeds; but, being all prime cattle, the account may the time of sale, and from the gross weight de- also afford some data for a judgement on that subducting eight pounds from every score, to be al-ject. As the weight of beasts varies accordingly as their bellies are more or less full, it is necessary to state, that the proportions above stated were made out when the cattle were weighed at eleven o'clock in the fore For ascer Kaimes' Gentleman Farmer, p. 209. taining the weight of cattle, we know of few more useful manuals than Renton's "Grazier's Ready Reckoner,;' a small pamphlet consisting of tables calculated to determine, by the admeasurement of a beast's body, the weight of any animal within certain limits, Where prices are mentioned, they are, of course, sinking the offal; and accompanied with rules for takonly nomi.ial. ing such measurement. noon. This ox obtained a prize from the Durham Agricultural Society, in 1806.-See Agricultural Survey of Durham, pp. 238 and 245. §This ox obtained the highest prize from the Smithfied Cattle Club, in 1807; but in taking his dead-weight, the contents of his stomach were not deducted. No fair comparison can, therefore, be drawn between him and The two following tables, selected from Lord | Oxen, &c." exhibit the various weights adopted Somerville's valuable tract, intituled "Facts and in different counties and districts for equalizing the Observations relative to Sheep, Wool, Ploughs, different modes of calculation carcass. the others, as they were all weighed empty; and he is only inserted among them in order to show the extra dinary difference, in real value, that might arise, if cattle were to be weighed with their stomachs full Allowing the true weight of the entrails of this ox to have been 134 stone, (which nearly corr the proportionate weight of his fellow Hereford,) then his proportions would have been Dead to live-weight, Dead-weight *Both these oxen obtained premiums from the Smithfield Club. And of offal to carcass instead of as stated in the Summary. |