The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-17
Care of Heffers.

I always take keen interest in those
heifers that are approaching maternity for
the first time 1t is meet that every dairy
man should do the same not merely for
sentiment, but for practical results. In
certain sense the heifer is usually neg
lected creature up to the time of dropping
her first calf. Then, as cow capable of
profit she becomes of Importance in the
eyes Of her owner.
Some may not cali 1t neglect if the calf
and heifer is fed and watered with reason
able regularity, housed from storms and
given that care usually accorded to dry
stock In anticipation of what the calf
and heifer is destined to be, however, care
should go farther than that, and the
young animal should be given equal atten-
ton with her milk yielding sister. AS
to future results, it doesn't make any diff
ference what time of the year the calf is
born, as a winter calf will make just as
good a COW as a summer one, if she has
equal care.
With our modern stable conveniences
such care is easily accorded if the inclina-
ton of the owner runs in the right groove.
This is important to those who practice
winter dairying and who will soon have
new mich cows on hand. Don't think
that you must sacrifice promising heifer
calves, then, because the weather is cold.
Just put them in dry, warm quarters where
their bleating will not distract their dams,
and feed them on whole milk for few
days. By the time the mothers milk is
worth saving, by the seventh or ninth
milking, according to the condition of her
udder, the calf will do well on warm skim
med milk, enriched by little Oil meal or
wheat middlIngs. At least this has been
the writer's experience.
For the first few days 1t is best to remove
the calves entirely from the cow stable
until their dams have forgotten them, and
a snug pen provided with plenty of straw
can be fixed up for that temporary occu-
patton in the horse barn or some other
convenient building. All that is essential
Is to keep them dry and warm, feed them
warm milk enriched to compensate for the
removal Of the butter fat, and in a little
while they will also learn to eat ensilage
or bright sweet hay. Yes it is very easy
to raise vigorous winter dropped calves If
you only think so, and are willing to give
them reasonable care and attention. But
how about the yearlings the 2-year-olds
and those 3-year-olds that will soon
attain maternity for the first time? They
require more than just ordinary attention,
and you will make costly mistake if you
do not give them cow care until they be-
come full fedged cows. OF course it is
not meant that they should be fed a milk
forming diet until the conditions exist for
them to manufacture milk, but every other
attention lavished upon the mich animal
should be accorded them.
If the TANKS and sides Of the active cows
are kept clean and neat by bedding and
carding, the passive cows should be just az
much favored; if the nnlk-yielding animals
are given a chance to daily drink water in
peace, the interchangeable smaller fry
Should be given the same privilege and
not be bullied over by their older sisters
DO not turn them among the others to
water, or they will be crowded to the wall
and may return to the stable as thirsty as
when they went out.
But there is still another attention that
the young heifer coming fresh for the first
time should receive prior to maternity
It il that she should be made perfectly CO.
Hle and tractable by gentle handling. This