ON THE FATTENING OF CATTLE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1643, 16 January 1883, Page 4

ON THE FATTENING OF CATTLE.

Til B chief purpose of cattle-fattening, cither for ccpoit or iionic! consumption, ia to obtain the greatest (ju.iutity of hoot, of good quality, at the least possible ovpeiiso. To obtain this end the tanner must breed, raise, and fatten his own beasts, with food grown entirely on the farm, and it he can produce aijcast which at three years gives a live weight of 1,3001b5, then he may look for some profit in his operations. Arriving soon at matin ity, not only in size but also in fatness, is an important object to the farmer, as his profit must in ereat a measure depend upon it. Where beasts, bred for carcass only, become fat and attain a good weight at an early «ge, they not only return sooner the price of their feed, with profit to the feeder, but also a greater value for w h.it they h.ive consumed. This desiiable ([Utility greatly depends on a mild and quiet disposition, which quietness of temper is as much owing to the manner in Avhioh the animal is reared as to tfic belonging to a tame breed. A beast should also hiire a roomy frame for carrying weight, ■without being too large and coarse in the bone. To sum up the jibove qualifications, then, it is necessary that the most profitable breed for beef-making should combine a tendency to fatten, quick feeding, early maturity, weightCcirrynig frame, an abundance of inside fat, and meat ot a fine giain. This union of desirable qualities is claimed by many gra/iors to be present in the improved breed of shorthorns. The Hereford breed is the best for hardiness ; the Devon for hiire breeding and good nursing, in which the sliorthouis are deficient : while the Aberdeen polled cattle are said to be the best for an aveiageof all requirements. Having now given the purpose ot fattening, .and the animal to fatten, we shall proceed to give a few useful facts as a guide in the process of fattening, witii respect of food and management. The uses of food aio to keep up animal heat, repair waste, and make flesh and fat. This % aluo of fat is all'ected by the breed, age, and character of the animal, and also upon the management. There is a great difference between "life' food and '•fattening" food, and food abounding with sugar and starch should be given to keep up heat and life, while fatty and oily foods aie icqiiiied for laying on fat. Young animals building up bone and muscle require diflerent kinds and quantities of food fiom the older, and more mature ones. linmatuie animals le•lUire more dry fodder, such as hay and straw, than those which have turned at hill growth.-' .Much of the success of obtaining big weights in a shott time lies in si knowledge ot the proper kind and propoitions of food as suited to age and chaiaoter of the bca&t. (!ood permanent pastuie, with pioper shelter and water, gives a greater daily iucu'ase than any other form ot food. But grazing cattle in open fields, under ceitain conditions, isaveiy slow method of fattening. As lor instance, if c.ittlc ate exposed to lon»coiitiniied lams, they lemaininaihenoheil ami comfortless state, they become dull and lose their appetite, lose tlesh. Even if sheltered from lain they suffer tiom the juices of the grass Leuig thin and ■wateiy in the veiy ■wet seasons, and, instead ot nourishing, thoii food scours and weakens the cattle. When it appears that the lattening beasts are injuriously all'ected by long-continued lams, it is nece&saiy, to pie\ent disease, that they should be allowed a libeial quantity of stiaw or hay, and be lemovcd to the driest pasture available, it not to sheltei. In 01 dcr to graze cattle to advantage they .should be changed fi om one pasture to another as otten as opportunity or other chcunistances will allow. By this plan they w ill bo more contented, as tliey delight in variety, and by culling the choicest paitot the glass, fill tliemsches quickly, "md have plenty of time lor rest. It is advisable, theicfoie, that the graxier or farmer should have scvwal paddocks, well fenced and sheltered, and abundantly •supplied w it'll good water.

IJeet-nia-Uing liy means of soiling, that is, feeding in .sheds 01 yaid.s with vaiious Kinds of cut gieen food, has many advantages ovur depastuiing the field or making «viM into liay. In tljc first place tlicic is agi&ifc &a\ing of land, a\ Inch is us ono to three— which moans that one aero of cut food will fatten a beast instead of three acres of pastuic being re»[uiied ; si ml, secondly, theic i-> a con.sideiable inei'easo in the quality and quantity of inaniue. When land is pastured the dung that falls upon it is destroyed in vaiious ways, and does not go through the process ot fei mentation. by boiling, not only a greater quantity of jichdung l.s obtained, but it may lie collected and used to more advantage, That the soling '•ystein is attended with gieat labour in cutting and carrying the iood, in feeding and keeping the stock clean, and also occasions some expenses in buildings, cannot be denied, but these objections should bo balanced by the advantages above desciibed. In the soiling process one competent man can attend to tliiity animals. It is not advisable to feed constantly on gieen iood alone, a piopoition of diy food should also be allowed. Every animal that chews the cud must have bulk ; it is not enough to give sufficient nutritive \siliiciu small quantities — the stomach must be li Hot t to give material for rv initiating, fattening cattle should have i'is limuli us they can eat and furt otten. say live tunes a day. In computing the profit ou a fat beast the manure is an important ltcn, and should be properly \ allied, as well as the /Inuf tito i tt\e in weight from the consumption of iood. I'iofessor 13ro\vn, of the Agricultural College, Canada, puts it as follows :—: —

To which must be added X'O, as \alue of manure produced, therefore total piofitis £S, of which the larger part depends on the manure.

CJt'Ki: i'or (Jvnckii. — The Hawera Star nays :— lt ib too good to believe, yet tlie statement is made, that at length a remedy has been found for cancer. It is the frehh milk of the euphorbia tree. The euphorbia i& a bpurge shrub species nd'oiding an acrid milky juice. This juice, gathered from the tree, and applied by a feather to the wound, causes great pain, laigely increases the dischaige, discolours the parts, but application being continued, heals the Mound. It is already popular in some parts of Africa to heal ordinary wounds and to cure coins, but nobody suspected its value in cancer until it was applied in Queensland. Doctors will question whether the evternal application of a drug will euro constitutional disease like cancer ; font it is averted so searching is the euphorbia juice in its effect that after it has been largely used on the skin it actually operated upon the secretions of tho palate, and can bo tasted iv the mouth. The difficulty in England would be to get euphorbia juice, but if it turns out to be of any value its specially healing constituent will soon be discovered, and, being non-volatile, preserved for use there. To laugh at the new drug is easy, but those who reflect that Peruvian bark was discovered by a mere accident would like to hear something more about the "milk" which cures one of the most painful diseases to which humanity is subject.! '/' ' ( „ Tnjs latest craze among tho young, .masculine' idiots iv Massachusetts' is Jot' I tye ,, t cjslU6ti6n of hair-pins .ffpm^ young;,

i> »> «1. supposing ,1 bi as!, 'I], ye.irs old, when put up fur si\. months' fuednitf, bu valued .it . . .. . . 12 0 0 Just of food for si\ months . . 7 0 0 Total cost 10 0 0 i'.ilne (if Lit .inim.il ),.'ioolbs, .it ,j,'d per pound . ... . '21 0 0 Stibtiatt cost ... . . ... 1') 0 0 C.ibh profit on food . 2 0 0