Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-28
LOWER WATERFORD FARMERS
CLUB.

Subject for discussion. Feb. Isi "The best
method orraIsing calves"
ID. Il. Brown The first thing is to have
good cows and then use n good sire. Calves
look the best when they run with cows. but
with the present price of butter cannot ai
ford ii.
W Kline: II is pretty clear that we can
not afford to let the cows run with the calves.
l.. b. Church: Commence learning my
calves to drink at two days old. The only
sure way is to feed them so that they will
always keep growing.
W. Klnne How is it done? Three years
ago I raised seven calves; four of them
were early and the other three were late
calves. The first were learned to drink when
day or two old; gave them meal at first,
nnd'gradua!ly changed to skim milk, so that
when three weeks old gave them nothing
but skim milk with the exception of hay rs
soon rs they would eat IT; turned them on
the ground AS soon MS it would admit of, and
continued to feed milk until about three
months old, when they were turned out and
kept rs farmers ordinarily keep such stock,
until the fall after they were two years old,
when they were fed meal five or SIN weeks,
and they were sent To market and sold to
dress $50 lbs. each. The other three were
treated in the same way, except that they
were never wcaned. When they came To
| the barn gave each of them a teacupfu of
scalded oai meal twice day, with n little
milk added rs long MS | had it, made into
swill They were kept like the others, and
at two years old pair We're handled. In
| September after they were two years old the
pair weighed 26O0 lbs They We're worked
through the fall and winter until the next
fall when they weighed 5000; they We're
sold for $3.50.
| 5. 5. Stoddard; | learn my calves to drink
~ soon rs | can; sometimes never let them
suck Mt all. ! give little corn bread at ev-
ery feeding with little salt in the milk, and
every Monday morning n little saltpeter in
the milk When first commenced farming
| lost several calves-one year six, all had
hut since have adopted this treatment they
have been healthy. | give about two-thirds
of u common pailful ut each feeding, or all |
think they can bear.
Judge +. X. Carpenter: | learn my calves
To drink when two or three days old; begin
with new milk and gradually change to skim
milk, so that ut four weeks old give them
skim milk altogether. ! throw in u little
meal, (out meal preferrc,D ut each feeding
on the top of the milk, and they will drink i
all up. Am not much troubled with calve.
securing; if So give about teRspoonful 81
saleralus in the milk keep them tied with Il
rope out doors in sunny weather.
w. Kinne: think there is something thai
we do not understand yet We can always
raise some good calves, but we want to know
how Ia do il every time. To Illustrate;
once had pair of oxen that done eNtraol
binary we'll that would not take any salt
Eight years ago gave each of my calves u
teacupful OF rye meal at feeding, and never
hid So good success. | thought then that
had learned the secret, hut the next yeal
with the same treatment it was an utter fail
urc,
Chas Ross am particular TO give
the calf its mothers milk when young
Think il important that they ARE kept clean
and for that purpose bed their stable will
saw dust prefer il fine. tie them in stan
chions to feed, and each one has his buckle
marked, so that give them just so much ev
cry time; never allow them to take eacl
+ others mess. had rather they would &,
without feeding, than that they have mor'
than usual. | don't believe in dOctorin,
when the calves are well. 1t may be we'll I,
give medicine In Mr.. StOddard's locality, bu
that is no reason that ii should he necessar.
elsewhere.
j, W. Stoddard My method is similar Il
Judge Carpenter. | never give their mes
cold, and give little meal scalded; preie
oat meal. Once bought calf of Mr., En-,
cry Hovey about five months old, that weigh
ed 1882 lbs, and fed him 80 days and gaIne'
1893 lbs,
A. Is. Carpenter; There is a difference il
the growth Of calves from the way that tn
COWS are kept; the better the cow is fed, tn
better the milk for the calf Much depend
on keeping them clean to prevent them scour
ing. Calves that are full fed 10 begin wit
will bear more than those stinted when young
, When | am short for milk, | feed then
porridge and have good success Think
/ better to feed hay as long ms they are ie
, with milk
/ +. X. Carpenter; | think il important /