St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-03-03
Calves During the Early Spring.


Young things that have done excep-
tionally well during the past three
months, will, in the same hands, un-
doubtedly 90 on to grass as young grow
inc stock always should, namely, with
pliable hides and oily coats two evi-
dences that they have not put in the
whole winter without making some
growth. Yet, even such as have done
capitally up to February, will possibly
require more attention till grass than
they have from time of grass in the fall
till the present time. AS winter, nears
its close, efforts are likely to berelaxed,
in view of the near approach of the
spring bite and due attention to the bad
influence of the cold rains and mud
under foot, SO liable to come in all ex-
cept the more northerly States. be neg
Iected.
These influences, added to the dis
furbed digestion, accompanied by a
more orless distended abdomen, in the
case of calves that have not done well
during first half of winter, will call for
extra care to the latter class. The
coarse iced. especially straw, should be
entirely ignored. no access being al
lowed to any other than concentrated
food. except moderate allowances of
fine, bright. welEcured hay. The
trouble which usually comes to very
Young stock from feeding ground foods
is the indigestion, liable to overtake
them through fermentation Of Che food
given. For this reason, oil-cake meal
is undoubtedly the best food in use Tor
calves. Farmers naturally have q pref
udice against buying feed for farm
stock of any kind, under the belief that
the grains grown upon their-own farms
are good enough for any animal reared
thereon.
They forget that calves are usually
reared artifcially; that is, they are. as
a rule, too early deprived of their nat,
ural sustenance. the milk of the mother.
This involves the necessity of substitute
ing as! nearly an equivalent as can be,
found. On account of the tendency to
fermentation Of ground foods, when
given freely to young things, and the
cake meal being only in a slight de-
gree. compared to some other feeds.
liable to ferment in the stomach Of the
calf. the latter is adopted, espe tally in
Europe. by pretty much all who rear
cattle and sheep, as the (, psf important
food at their command. Especially is
this true as regards their management
of young stock; nor do they restrict its
use to growing things, but use it freely
as basis for foods during the entire
process OF fattening.
Now is a good time for observing men,
with Judgment well matured in such
matters, to look up and buy young
stock to rear, as the discerning eye will
see the evidences of good strains III the
breeding and good care in the winter
ing, where these are present Calves
that have been properly cared for till
February 1st are, with proper protec-
tion, easily carried through to grass, in
good shape for rapid gain. Calves
should be isolated from older cattle, as
their food requires to be selected and
very carefully given. Even such calves
as incline TO play master. should be re-
stricted in their opportunities for doing
SO, being fed separately
Where shelter had not already been
provided, it is not too late to attend to
this important duty. As a dozen calves
can find sleeping room in a covered
bWClSO 1COD oHU1LOs IAO GA
pense of putting up an unpretending,
yet warm calf room. need be but trifiing.
A very serious mistake is made by many
men in discontinuing the feeding of grain
upon first turning to grass. There
is material loss to the strength of
the. calf by this practice, as the system
undergoes d radical change when green
grass with its abundance of water is
taken into the stomach in place of the
substantial dry feed to which it has been
accustomed during the winter.
Under the coming system, sure to
hold sway in the near future, namely,
the feeding off At half the age heretofore
thought proper. nosoWner can afford to |
lose any time through emitting to fol-
low up the grain and oil-cake feed on
young animals. II these strong foods
are required, and pay while on the dry
hay, given during the absence of grass.
they will pay equally well after the lat
ter is entered upon, and should not be
discontinued till the young things have
become well accustomed to this, have
plenty of it, and are thriving apace.-
Lire Stock Journal.
u How to Treat Frosted Plants.
IF any Of your readers should at any
time be SO unfortunate as to have their. |