SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

44
Saga-Book of the Viking Society
During the winter months, from 25 October to 14 May,
the gates in the walls dividing infield from outfield are
thrown open. The sheep graze over the beur and the
lower parts of the hagi, while the cattle are removed to be
fed indoors. 26
Cattle raising
The official stock, or skipan, of 66 cows grazes on the
lower parts of the outfield, below the cliff-line (i.e. the
hushagi) during the summer, each landowner being allowed
to place on the outfield a number of beasts in proportion
to his holding. For this purpose a beast under the age of
one year counts as a half. In addition to this stock many
islanders have a cow or two all the year round in stall, fed
on cattle-cake and hay, and sometimes also on slices of
pilot-whale meat when this is plentiful. Cattle, as distinct
from sheep, are invariably held individually, as is the
practice all over Faroe.
The village bull is held in common. It is allowed to
roam loose in the outfield, to serve whatever cow it
encounters. In theory, the care of the bull should circulate
in proportion to each man's land holding, but nowadays
it is kept by a few of the villagers, who are paid a
small sum yearly for taking on this responsibility. When
the bull grows old, it is sold to a butcher and a new bull
bought from one of the villagers at joint expense. The
castration of young bulls is rarely practised. More usually
they are sold when two years old.
In summer the women and girls go out to the hushagi
every morning and evening to milk the cows. A little of
the milk is sent to Torshavn, but the bulk of it is consumed
in the island.
Hay for the winter feeding is, of course, the responsibility
of each individual owner and is grown on the beur.
•• Details of Faroese techniques of sheep culture are to be found in Daniel
Bruun, op, cit., 196-2II, and the fine series of small books by Robert Joensen:
Royvia (I9S8), Greivabitin (I960), and Byta seya og fietta (I968), all published in
Klaksvlk, as well as in many of the other books previously cited.