River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-02
How to Raise Good Calves.

independent of any consideration of
cost. fresh milk as it is drawn from the
mother is undoubtedly the best food for
calves, rs it is for all young animals.
When there is a market for milk, how
ever, or when it can be prOtitably CON
verted into butter and cheese, it is Il
very costly article of diet. The milk
furnished by good COW during season
is ordinarily worth $50, and if it is pro
duced near butter or cheese factory,
or convenient to point where milk is
shipped to city it may sell for cOnsid-
erably more. Indeed, the vendors of
milk in all large towns consider pure,
unauthorized milk as entirely too eX-
pensive to be used by human beings.
They accordingly remove the cream or
dilute it with water, and add some cheap
substance to give it the appearance OF
richness.
There is no reason why young cattle
should be used any better than young
human beings in the matter of being
supplied with expensive food. There
is however the best Of reasons for
furnishing them with food
that will insure rapid growth.
Calves that are stunted in the early
part of their lives seldom develop into
large and vigorous animals. The best
attention should accordingly be given
to their food from the time they are born
till they are year old. BY common
consent they should be allowed to draw
the milk from the udder of their dams
for three or four days after they are
dropped. At the end of this time they
can be taught to drink as well as at any
more advanced stage of their growth.
1t may be well to allow them some
new milk for Il short time, but skinned
milk should be substituted for it in the
course of week
This material is, however, lacking
in the requisite amount Of fat, and some
thing should be added that will furnish ii
in suitable quantities to supply the re-
quirements of growing animals. The oil
contained in hax-seed is the cheapest
as well as the best substitute for the
oil secreted with milk. 1t is not neces-
sary to express it before feeding it, The
seed, as it is beaten out, may be boiled
in water, and the mixture poured into
the skinned milk Linseed cake may
be used in the place of boiled flaxseed,
and if is soaked for some time it will
require no boiling Ground Enseed
cake is preferable to the solid cake,
and in many respects what is known as
the new process linseed meal is
preferable to either Most of the oil
has been extracted from it, but it is very
rich in material for forming bone and
muscle.
Authorities differ as to the amount of
llaX-seed or articles produced from it
that should be fed to calves. 1t is in
the opinion of many breeders best to
commence with not more than half Il
pound per day, and to gradually in
crease the ration to one pound. The
"new process" meal may be fed more
literally, as it contains comparatively
little oil, and is finely ground, so that
it is easily digested Raw corn meal is
not good article of food for young
calves, rs it is hard to digest. Indeed,
a large proportion of the raw corn fed
to full-grown cattle passes through them
undigested. Oat meal, however, Is eX.
ccllent, and to realize the best effects
from its use it should be stirred in the
milk some time before it is fed. Quite
may be fed to good advantage.
The best fodder for calves during the
winter consists of rowcn or aftermath,
the hay made from fine and tender but
matured grasses. and the leaves of corn.
The latter should not be fed continu-
ously for any great length of time, as
the sharp edges of the leaves are likely
to render the mouths of the calves sore.
The use of fiaxseed should be continued
during the winter and the rations should
he increased as the winter becomes quite
cold. Pains should be taken to secure
a change of food at short intervals, so
rs to keep the appetite good. To this
end it Is well to give an occasional ration
Of roots, potatoes, cabbages and meal.
1t should be remembered that young
animals require food and drink much
more frequently than old ones do, and
neglect to feed them g early and eften''
is one Of the most common causes OF
failure in stock raising.
Calves that are brought up by hand
will learn to eat grass much earlier than
those tnat are allowed to suckle. The
weather process almost invariably caus-
es calves to loss tlcsh, and they gener-
ally go into WATER quarters IN very
poor condition. Calves that have been
taught to drink at an early age will eat
considerable grass at the end Of a few
weeks if they have 4 suitable opportun-
ity They should be allowed 4 pasture
to themselves, for obvious reasons. The
grass in it should be sweet and tender,
After grain hiss been cut, calves may be
furaa1 istn fields fhaf have hef,n seeded
10 clover and true grasses to excellent
advantage. At first they should be nj
lowed the range of field or young
clover II few hours at a time and should
be supplied with some dry food topre-
vent hloat or noven
special pains should be taken e. keep
calves free from vermin They should
be busted from time to time With flow
efs Of sulphur, snuff and street sweep
ing. and If lice s.fen appear they should
be destroyed BIZ the nse of kerosene or
4 decocti0n IL tobacco The card Or
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