The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-24
From the Southern Planter. !
Grazing Cattle.

But when it is remembered that some
farmers invariably have their cattle in
high condition and thoroughly fat at
market day, whilst others as constantly
present theirs in the twilight state OF
dublety, between "stOck and beef"
known as half fat" there would seem
to be something more requisite than SIM
ply giving the herd the range of the
pastures.
In order TO successful aud profitable
grazing it is important that the stock
should have been we'll wintered When
gentle spring" comes with its deep
green earth it should find them in a
healthy and vigorous condition, ready
to improve, as we'll as enjoy. the luxury
of being turned ont to grass" Animals
which have been kept during the winter
upon an insufficient allowance of prov
ender, and are by spring so reduced in
flesh and exhausted in strength, that the
vital organs scarcely perform their ap-
propriate functions, require much time
to attain the point, at which their more
fortunate brethren, who have Jared boun-
t!fully, if not "sumptuously every day"
Would commence that luxurious career,
whose end is the shambles Stock in
good condition in the fall are much more
easily wintered than those commencing
that, season Of trial to the whole bovine
race, as rivals to their 'ill-favored' cous
ms ,seen by the dreaming monarch or
Egypt upon the banks of the Nile But
1 am straying from my subject. 1t being
no part of my intention to discourse,
either upon tho principles that should
govern the buyer. or the best mode of
winteTing cattle purchased
AS the grasses constitute the natural
and appropriate food of cattle and is that
upon which they thrive most rapidly, in
order that they may derive the greatest
advantage and highest enjoyment from
it during the season, they should be
turped.into the pastures rs early in the
spring as the condition vegetation will
permit; which is just as soon as the
grass has attained such growth as to en-
able the animal TO crop it readily. |
have known cattle lose more flesh by be-
ing confined to the barn-yard i'll the
month of April, than they had done dur
ing the entire winter. And this loss of
flesh sustained by them, was not compen-
sated for to the owner by the increased
growth of the grass.
When stock are turned upon the pas
lures, whilst the grass is yet young, it
springs up so readily after being crop
ped, that they not only have their food
during most of the summer, in the fresh,
sweet and nutrious condition of early
spring but the laud actually yields q
larger amount than it would otherwise
do; for if everything is excluded from
the pastures until the grass gets a good
start" that is until it has attained con
siderable size and age, it not only grows
up much more slowly after being eaten
off. but is less acceptable to the animals.
1t is we'll known to every observant
farmer that those spots where the grass
is tallest and most luxuriant, are just
those rejected by the discriminate palate
of the tastidious quadruped whilst the
short and less 1ourishing are re-cropped
daily with unalloyed appetite.
1t is the practice of some successful
gra7iers to winter their stock in the
fields upon which they arc to bo grazed
the next summer, never removing them
even for day, in order to let the grass
get ahead. This method is practicable
when the farmer has large quantity Of
close and heavy old sod.
/ am we'll satisfied that the same area
of pasturc-land will make more beef in
a season, by turning the cattle upon lit
early. in the spring. than by the opposite
method.
When cattle are turned to grass they
of pastures intended for them To be
changing them from field to field during
the summer. induces disContented and
unquiet disposition in the highest degree
unfav vorable to the regular and rapid i'm.
provemGnt in their condition So essen
tial is it to the fattening process that
the animal should be permitted to enjoy
in undistuTbed repOse the calm pleas
ure4 Of ruminltion the farmer -hOnld
lie careful as far a. practicable, to re
move every cause tending to disturb and
agitate his herd. Colts and rdle horses
should therefore never he allowed To run
with the fattenng cattle.
During the summer, stock should be
salted regularly aud abundantly At
this season they seem 30 require more
than at any other period OF the year 1t
would, perhaps, be the best plan to keep
a supply constantly by them, but a.
this is rarely practicable, it ought TO be
given to them frequently aud at regular
intervals. It's my practice to salt each
alternate day in the summer Under
this practice, cattle consume but small
quantity at n time, and it has the effect
Of promoting their quiet and content
ment. TIE time of the day at which cat
tie are salted is, | think, matter of lit.
tie consequence, although some persons
attach Importance to it. But as cattle
are very regular and methOdical in their
habits whilst grazing, passing over the
entire enclosure allotted TO them, in near
" the same order every day, it is we'll
to salt always at the same place, and so
arrange the time as to reach the spot
simultaneously with the cattle in the
progress Of their regular rounds.
| much prefer an abundant supply Of
running water in the pastures, yet those
farmers who have to depend upon ponds,
insist that cattle do just as well when
compelled to allay their tltirst from a
green, Shiny and filthy pool, as when
drinking from the coolest spring or most
sparkling brook. This comfortable faith
in the virtues OF stagnant water, | have
no disposition to unsettle
There is nothing more grateful to the
painting herd on a hot and sultTy day in
July, than the cool and refreshing shade
thrown over the parched earth BY the
wide spread aud leaf covered branches OF
a noble oak or beautiful ash no hn-
name farmer, therefore, who entertains