The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-03-05
management Of calyes.

at Eyota, Minn., wishes to know how to
feed and manage calves fran a month
old up. Opinions on tnat differ some
what. Nearly every breeder has his
own circumstances. There are a few
facts, or principles, however, which are
generally accepted. These may be briet-
lv stated as follows:
]. Grass for the first six or eight
months is Of little use 10 the calf. 1t
needs its food in more concentrated
form-milk and grain, with little
sweet hay accessible for roughuess.
2. II the calf is intended for breeding
purposes 1t should have opportunity
for abundant exercise.
3. IT the best results are desired,
side from any dictates Of humanity, il
should be protected from the flies in
summer aud from storms In winter.
4. To secure satisfactory growth a
calf must be comfortable and should
have all the grain and hay it wants sor
can digest.
How best to cary out these principles,
or points. will depend on circumstances
Perhaps can do as we'll in answering
the question and give your inquirer as
clear an idea bv giving briefly our own
practice. We find il satisfactory here
and the details can he modified to suit
other conditions. 55s
Our calves are all weaned at one to
three days old, according to convenience
and the condition of the COW. If there
seems any danger Of milk fever or any.
particular swelling in the I'D |
prefer to leave COW and calf together
until she seems all right. This. how
ever, is for the benefit of the COW, not
the calf. For the first month we feed
new milk fresh from the COW. Ifa calf
is valuable it does not pay to cut it off
But usually by the time a calf is a.
month old it begins to eat some grain
bran and shellpd corn, or bran,5 oats
and corn. This Wa keep in reach, Civ
ing little at time so as to have it
fresh, and at the same time handful
Of good hay-perferable mixed hay.
With this grain in reach we feed sweet
separator skim-mllk.
We feed tbs milk pura and usually
about three quarts at feed, twice day,
increasing as the calf is able to digest
it. 1t is better to feed too little rather
than too much; and it a calf is disposed
to gulpit down it will do better If q
calf-feeder is used where it is compe lied
to drink slowly.
For the first couple of months the
calves are Kept in roomy box stalls we'll
bedded and preferably each by itself, or
only a couple together. After this they
are removed 10 a pen outside connected
with a paddock for exercise. Usually
there are three to- six calves together
here from two to ten months old. The
door of the stable is usually LETT open
always except very cold nights. A
heavy canvas or old carpet curtain is
hung over this opening which they push
aside to go in or out at pleasure. Iu
summer 1t is kept dark to avoid flies and
in winter it Is dry and moderately
warm, or free fron cold drafts.
II calves are at liberty aud several to
gether they take a great deal of exercise,
as much think as colts. or course
their romps take the fat off, but they
give what is infinitely more valuable in.
breeding animal or one intended fer
Neutrality-suspicious. health. And if
with abundant exercise they get all they
will eat they will keep as fat as tney
ought to be.
This system works we'll here. III
different climate or under other con-
ditions it might need modification. we
shipped to-day bull calf reared iu this
way that weighed $40 pounds at few
days under seven months old. He is not
fat from butchers standpoint, but
we'll filled out and In vigorous health.
consider that growth satisfactory.
]. McLain Smith.
| Montgomery Co., O.