The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-05-17
Rearing Calves.

can beef in England and the enlarged
consumption at homo aud abroad, it is
important that the supply of cattle
should be largely increased in this
country. No branch of farming is so
thoroughly legitimate or SO perma-
nently valuable as meat production.
1t not only furnishes a home market
for the roots, grains and grasses, but
gives such valuable manurial returns
ty the soil as will maintain its fertility
and Increase its profitable results.
Next in general Importance aud of
special adaptation to certain localities
is the production of butter and cheese.
Since the profitable following of either
Of these branches of farming depends
upon the judicious selection of the an
iraals for milk and beef, and since as 4
rule every breeder keeps his most
promising stock while selling his info
rior beasts, the Only safe course for
the farmer is TO raise his own stock,
breed in accordance with established
experience for the purposes required
and rear all promising calves.
In rearing calf the aim should be
the rapid and uninterrupted increase
III size and strength. The object of
good feeding is not to fatten a young
animal but to give strength and tone
to its vital force, TO increase and de-
yelop its powers of assimilation. Tn
der any circumstances the calf should
be allowed to suck its dam for few
days, or until the milk is fit for The
dairy, as it gives early inauguration,
while its mild medicinal qualities arc
necessary TO the regulation of its bow
els; after that the other food may be
substituted in part or whole. Feeding
should be at short intervals, but in
small quantities, for the digestive ma
chinsry of the young animals is small,
while its powers OF assimilation are
extremely active. At no time will
given quantity of nutritious food pro-
duce half the flesh as during the first
few months of its existence, and here
in lies the success of a generous feeder.
Neglecting the young animal is a scri-
Gus and expensive blunder on the part
of the farmer who hopes for future
profitable results, and one which 10
subsequent course of feeding can fully
repair.
The best food for calf during the
first months of its life is that provided
by nature, especially if the COW is fed
with milk onrlching food, yet on dairy
farms this method seriously interferes
with the production of butter and
cheese, and raises the question of the
comparative profits of stock-raising
and dairying. On such farms, if the
calves are to be reared, other methods
of feeding must be substituted. The
value Of all substitutes depends upon
their similarity in constituent quality
to milk, the standard food. Skim
milk contains great deal of flesh
forming material, as well as sugar,bu
is utterly deficient in fatty substance,
hence needs combination with some
food rich in fat and heat. A jelly
made from boiling little linseed oil,
meal in water, Cruel composed OF
one-third barley and two-thirds oats |
ground together very fine, are partial
substitutes. An infusion of hay, called |
hay tea or hay water, mixed with
milk in proportion, increasing with
the age of the calf, finally reduces the
quantity of milk required to a small
amount. In some parts of the coun-
try little wheaton -four is mixed with |
SKINNED milk. Whatever food is de- |
cided upon, care should be taken not
to change i. too suddenly, and let the
method and material approach as near
to nature as possible, bearing in mind
that fesh-forming foods are needed |
for muscular development, fat and
sugar for warmth and respiration, and |
phosphates for the building up of the
bony structure.
Most dairy farmers take the calves,
when week old, from the COWS, and
put them in a building by themselves,
giving them frequent supplies, i'll small
messes, Of new milk or skim-milk,
with linseed oil cake boiled to jelly,
hay tea and ground corn, or a Cruel of
ground oats and barley. The rearing
of calves without some portion Of milk
as food should never be attempted.
When a calf is month old it should
be gradually accustomed to dry food.
Roots cut up into thin pieces, oil meal
in small quantities, wisp of sweet
hay the calf will learn to eat, and as it
increases its consumption of dry food
the quantity of liquid food should be
until at the age of four
months it may be Withdrawn altogeth-
err Before putting the m out to grass
the calves should be accustomed to
the use of green food, to prepare their
stomachs for the succulent food of the
pasture. Young animals, accustomed
in early life to rich food, as grains or
Iinseed meal, will take on flesh more
in after life than those
brought up on poorer feed. Finally
success largely depends upon the care
ful attention of the farmer to the in
iividual wants of his stock. Ameri-
,dn CnltiDdtor.