ADVANTAGES OF EARLY MATURITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 7

ADVANTAGES OF EARLY MATURITY.

•?£ is well known that the advantages ■ of the early-maturity principle are adequately appreciated by a great majority , of the owners of farm live stock in the j United Kingdom, though, unfortunately its | merits receive scant recognition or apjsli- ] cation in this colony. How profitable the j fcystem-, judiciously practised, is was clearly ] put before the members of the Bnmstaple i (England) Agricultural Association, recently ] by a Mr E. Home, an extensive farmer. Mr Hoarce stated when he could sell his cattle at less than two years old, hecould' carry 50 per cent, more on his farm, than if he kept them until "they were -three years old. He did net, of course, get as' big prices for his two-year-olds as> he did for animals a year older, but it seemed to him that lie could make a better profit on the younger animals, provided they had been properly managed from calfihood, as he found) that, while cattle consumed, more food in their third year, the rate of gain in weight at the same period was le^s ; consequently the return obtained for food eaten by young animals 1 was more than, that derived: from feeding more \ matured stock. By treating the "animals j judiciously from birth, he was able to dispose of them, at from, twenty to twentytwo months old. at prices which left from IBs to 20s for every month, of the life of the animals. This he reckoned a very fair return^ and it is certainly a deal anrore than is obtained generally for older animals or inferior classes of cattle. TJn- j fortunately, however, there are many cattle owners who do not conduct their business on the principle indicated by Mr Home, as it is common to leave the animals pretty much to find food for themselves until they are finally taken in hiEund for preparation

, for the market, perhaps at three or four ; years old. 1