Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-12-08
Fall Treatment of Calves.

Calves require special treatment at this
season Of the year. Grass begins TO depre-
ciate in nutritive value when the first frosts
occur, and as cold weather approaches, calves
not unfrequently run down thin and weak
and are not prepared to meet the rigors of
winter. There is no season Of the year when
extra caro- and feed are more needed than in
the fall before the animals 60 into winter
quarters. Calves require TO be kept in a
thrifty growing condition, and if checked in
their growth during fall for proper noIrish-
ment they will be apt to fall sick in early
winter, and then can only with great diff.
Guilty be kept alive. Winter is very favor
able time to resuscitate weak and sickly ami
mails, aud it is always better to guard against
this trouble by care aD1 good feeding during
fall, for calves that are not allowed to lose
flesh and become weak at this season will
with fair treatment, 60 through the winter
without trouble. 1t is we'll then to COM
mence feeding calves little grain or ground
feed, pumpkins, tops of turuips, beets and
carrots when grass first begins to fail Oats,
either ground into meal or in the grain make
a good food for calves. and it is Of advantage
10 ItHCu lu6Il W tdb CAtEb lOOu VI tuo kluu
named at the time suggested, because later
in the season they may be more dainty in
appetite, especially if sick and debilitated.
Calves when brought to the barn in the
fall ought not to be run indiscriminately
with larger aud older animals, because they
often receive harm by being hooked and
showed about by the vicious members of the
herd. They are often deprived also of
their due share of food aud in consequence
fall away rapidly.
If whey or skinned milk can be had
from the dairy they will make good feed,
and little oil meal, say pound to each
animal cooked aud made into Cruel ind
added to the milk or whey, will greatly ndd
to this kind of ration. 10 raising stock for
the dairy it is desirable that the animals be
taught early to eat all kinds Of slop and that
they get an abundance of succulent food, as
by these means the capacity Of the stomach
is enlarged and milk secretion is promoted
II is important that calves make continued
growth during the first year, for if they are
not stunted during that period they will be
| likely to "come in milk" when two years
old /; and our experience in growing stock
for the dairy goes to show that the best COWS
for milk, other things being equal, are those
which drop their calves as early as tho time
named. But in addition to the greater milk
habit Of animals coming in at two years o
age there is the increased profit to the farmer
since the milk yielded during the following
year will bo more than sufficient to pay the
cost of keeping, while the animal "cominG
in milk" one year later adds in her keeping
very considerable extra expense.
In conclusion it may be proper to remark
that calves in the fall should be sheltered
from the cold storms Of rain aud sleet Incl
dent to that season Of the year. This is al
important item in fall management aud one
which is quite too often overlooked and neg
lected. Animals of tender age that are al
lowed to lie out at night exposed to drench
ing rains mingled with sleet aud snow mo-
uufrequently contract colds which lead t.
ills that impair the constitution, and in thi
way the stock becomes weakly and possessed
Of less endurance than they would have i
I properly cared for when young.
The raising of "deep mixers" as profitable
stock for the dairy does not depend alto
gether upon breeds. The. animals must bC
properly fed and cared for from the start
The raising Of dairy stock should not b
left to chance but should receive careful at
tention, guided in all its branches by thought
ful foresight aud intelligence .-RuraL Men
Yorker.