The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-22
Feeding and Weaning Calves.

II isa practise with some, perhaps many
to feed calves, even at the earliest age, only
twice day. This has always appeared to
us, no, only as cruel, but as unnatural. IL
seems so utterly at variance with tho man,
fest wants and instincts Of the young OF 9TH
er animals, those Of the human race includ'
ed, and 50 oppo,ed to the mode adopted by
Nature in supplying food to hinbs, to'lls'
&C., rs to convince US that il must Be in-
furious as well rs cruel and unnatural.-
We hayo no doubt that death and also
diseases that may not terminate fatally, ore
often caused by the overlooking Of the stom-
aeh, which is the natural consequences Of
fasting too long. The practise of feeding
very young calves only twice day is too
manifest an infraction Of the instinces im
planted by Nature, which lead the young oi
all animals to partake Of the food provided
for them, frequently and in small quanti'
tics, to be INDUCED in without perniciou;
and destructive consequences.
There are cons. .dentions Of various kinds,
therefore, calculated to influence persons oil
different disI osihOns aud characters, and
calling upon all for reform in the feeding
of very young calves. Those who care little
or nothing about the discomfort OF shei'
calves, may bc moved to this needed reform
by the obvious danger Of lOs Of property by
their disease or death. The very least that
should DO done in the way Of reform is tC
feed three times day, morning, noon, anC
night. When q calf is fed three times .
day, quart and u half to three quarts o
new milk will be sufficient during the frs
two or three weeks at each meal, and tn,
danger Of overlooking the stomach will thu
be avoided.
The change from new milk to other kind
OF food. should be made moro gradual!
than is the practice with some. Sudde'
and violent changes are always dangerous
and not unfequently productive Of discas
and even death. New mix should be al
lowed for three weeks at least. The danSe
from overlooking the stamach or disorder
ing the system is much greater with skim
mel milk or other substances than witt
now milk. But this danger may be avoid
cd by making the change in the food, iron
new milk to some substitute for it Yer.
gradual. Tho philosophy OF tins matter
we'll sct forth by Mr.. d, ]. BRowSI, in tn
srst article Of che last AZ. Report from 'h
Patent Ofice. 1t is therein shown to tn
eye by the aid Of wood cuts, that the fourt
stomach is much larger in calf than all til
other three, being the only one which
used while fed on milk. The Others inereas
in si.c us more solid food is supplied, an
are unprepared, oil at once, to perforr
their proper functions. This, briefly stated
is ono roason why calf should not be sud
denly changed from diet Of milk to one Q
more solid materials, as disease or IN arres
Of growth must necessarily follow.
Another reason why change from ne'
to skinned milk should not be suddenl
made is, that the latter has been deprived
nearly all its nutritive qualities. One VIII
was very successful in weanlng calves, is
them FIRST with new milk, and then wit
skim milk, and then with skim milk an
meal. the latter supplying the nutritive ma
sers abstracted by the butter and casein {
the cream.