The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-16
z P UP THE DAIRY.

usually necessary each year to dispose
of a certain number of COWS, according
to the size of the herd, from those that
are getting to be old or that may fail
from some other cause to be profitable
to retain. This must either be done by
raising heifers on the farm or by pur-
chasing the COWS.
In a comparatively few instances,
perhaps, the latter method might be
preferable, provided the right kind of
COWS could be obtained at reasonable
prices, but the majority of farmers
must or should depend on raising their
own dairy stock. This should be done
more cheaply than the COWS can DC
purchased. especially at the present
time and there are other advantages
that should be taken into consideration.
Tbese are the raising of the helters In
in a proper maune and their adapta-
tion to the farm, which could not come
from frequent changes of owership.
The first step in this businessis to get
the kind of heifer calves needed for the
dairy. They should be selected as far
as possible with particular reference
Tn the kind of work that is to be re
ouired of them, either as milk pro-
ducers or butter makers. 1t they can
not be obtained from the herd then 1t
will pay to look around among those
having good diaries for such as are
wanted. Next provide comfortable
quarters for these little animals, where
they can be kept warm and dry. Par,
ticularly is this necessary in winter
and spring when the weather Is shift
ing and unfavorable, and a large pro.
portion of the calves raised are started
at this time of the year.
Now how shall they be fed?
1t is now desirable to have heifers
commence giving milk at two years OF
age. To do this they must be well
cared for from the first. They must
be kept in vigorous health and steadily
growing. Their food should be sIch
as will foster the growth of muscle and
bone. rather than of fat. Within the
past quarter of a century by a proper
method of treatment, heifers are as
good at two gears old as they used to
be at three. Milk is the natural food
for the young calf and this should be
supplied in sufficient quantities, neither
too large nor too small.
With the Jersey calf it is particular
" necessary not to over feed for the
first few weeks, otherwise bad results
will follow. After a little, skim milH
may be gradually substituted for Tia
fresh from the COW. In col2 weather
this can be had sweets It the SWed
ish or ccl4 ldeep setting system Of
cream raising is ~practiced; it a be
had sweet during the warmest season
of the year, especially if practiced in q
portable creamery. To make up for
the fat of the milk removed in the
cream it is we'll to make a little cruel
or porridge from middlings or oil meal
and add to the milk a tablespoonful OF
the meal for each calf, at a feed is suf
cient at first.
A very important matter in the feed
ing of skim milk is 20 have it sufficient
~ warmed. Here is an advantage
claimed for farm separators, in that
the milk can be fed almost before the
animal heat is gone. But I can see no
difficulty where the cream is obtained
by cold deep setting, as it can be easily
warmed to any desired temperature.
We are raising a December calf on
milk from cold deep setting with the
addition of 'middlings as described
above, and it is doing nicely, there be.
ing no trouble from the scours.
A young farmer in Wind 0r county,
Vt ,is making a business of raising veals
on skim milk from cold deep setting
alone, no grain feed being added. To
most farmers this would seem impossi.
bic, but there is no doubt in the matter.
He first heats the milk hot, th3n
feeds three times a day, giving four tc
we quarts at a time. The calves are
not allowed to drink the milk, but take
itfrom Small's calf feeder or SOMETHING
similar In this way the milk has tt
be taken much more slowly than wher
drank, and he attributes some of his
success to this method of feeding, as he
has never had a case of scours. He
feeds from four to five weeks old anC
then sells for four to five dollars a head
having a goodmarket. ~
If the farmer Ras-nAkitiAEeA+ +
feedu1M the calves are severslmonth
old. Some do this, keeping them i
the barn during this time, considering
it better than turning out to grass