The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-08-04
.AGB1CJTlhEUBNrto
From the Farmers Cabinet,
GRAZING NEAT CATTLE.

UhhAlNU NEAR CATTLE.
This is matter of great interest, and in
order to its successful management it is all
important that we start on right principles.
The editor of the Complete Grazier,"
says that the feeding and fattening wheth-
er for labour or for sale, is the most impor-
tant in the whole economy of the grass
farm. 1t therefore, follows that farmer
should previously consider the nature and
fertility of his pastures, and the extent and
quality of his other resources-and accord.
ing to these he ought to regulate his system
OF grazing, soiling or stall-feeding. Those
beasts only should be selected which eyince
the most thriving disposition to fatten with
The least consumption Of food, and depas.
ture them upon such lands as are best cal
culated for che respective breeds. Cattle
ought not to be taken from rich 10 inferior
soils---it is desirable 10 choose them from
lands of nsarly the same quality as those
intended for their reception. 1t would be
well Tor graziers to choose their purchased
stock from an inferior soil. Itis also prop
sr In all situations not fully supplied with
wholesome water, to avoid selecting cattle
from those districts where it abounds in a
state of purity,
The practise of grazing necessarily diff.
,tsrs according to the nature of the land.
In stocking lands, as the proportion of
beasts must depend upon the fertility of the
soil, it will generallybe found that local Gus
tom which is generally the result of expert.
enee, will afford the surest guide. Instances
are recorded in English works, of fifteen
large bullocks and one hundred and fifteen
sheep having been fattened on fifteen acres.
The subdivisions of land, kept for the sole
purpose OF pasturing, should depend as well
uPon fertility asupon the number of different
kind ofcattle to be fed upon it. To render the
grazing of cattle profitable it is necessa
.ryto change them from one pasture tc
another, beginning with the most inferior
grass and gradually removing then
TO the best. BY this expedient, a.
cattle delight in variety, they will Gull the
uPPermost or choicest parts of grass, anc
by filling themselves quickly, as we'll as b,
lying down much, they will rapidly ad
vance towards a proper state of fatness
BY this process, Enclosures are rendered
necessary, but great difference exist as t,
the most suitable size.
John Nicholson, Esq, in his valuable
work, the Farmers Assistant, says, =" If
farmer has but three cows, and has thre,
acres OF the best pasture land, he ought t.
divide this into at least two parts, SO tha
the one can be growing while the other il
feeding Again if he keeps only 20 COWS
and has twenty acres of the best pasture, h,
will find his reward in having it divided intc
Jour parts, and pasturing each enclosur,
three or four days alternately. In this wa,
pasture, land will keep at least one.fourtE
more OF cattle, and will keep them better
than If the pasture were in one field. No
only change ofpasture is beneficial. bu
change of different kinds of cattle, in III,
same pasture, should be attended 10. Thu,
let the milch cows take the first croppini
Of each field in rotation, then the horses an[
pxsn' and the sheep next. In this way III,
lsstlseder viii eat much grass that has beer