Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-28
TEACHING cALve SHOW TO DRINK.
CALVES CAN BE RAISED WITHOUT
NILK.-ANINALs SHOULD ALWAYS BE
KEPT THRIFTY.

CALyEs CAN BE RAISED wrTHou'
NILK.-ANINALs SHOULD ALWAYS Bl
KEPT THRIFTY.
A new subscriber, who IL also new II
dairying, asks II calves can be raiset
successfully without milk. II "whsi
man has done, man can do" IL true, thu
Iquestion may be answered In the az
firmstive, for many calves have beer
so raised. But 1t requires skin, good
Judgment and careful watchfulness. a
IL IL not in accordance with natures
methods, which la most cases are the
best methods.
The modern dairy COW, however, can
hardly be called product OF nature,
since man has remodelled her TO serve
his artificial purposes. The dairy COW
Of to-day gives more aud richer milk
than IL needed for feeding her Off
spring; indeed. the best butter produc-
ers often yield milk too rich in fat for
the best development Of calf. In such
cases removing part OF the cream will
be an advantage to both calf and owner.
have raised as good calves as could
ask for chiefly on skim milk, but l lost
several while learning how.
Mix Ia the natural food of the young,
and I would not advise 3 farmer to dis
pense with It entirely during the first
few weeks, as II Is risky experiment,
especially so for novice at the business.
Modern investigation has taught physi-
clans that stsrchy food Is indigestible 10
babies In the early months OF their exist
enee. Bread, the staff OF life for an adult
with digestive organs fully developed,
would be the arrow Of death II fed ex-
clusively TO an infant. Calves develop
faster than babies, and can dispense with
milk earlier, but IL Is not safe to take IL
away entirely till they are few weeks
old.
"Scours" carries of most OF the calves
that fall to do well. IL Is simply symp-
tom Of indigestion at first, but unless
corrected at once Il generally means
death or worse. A dead calf Is loss,
but an unthrifty one Is a constant source
OF expense. Scours are due TO many
causes, but probably the most common
cause In hand fed calves Is giving too
much food or that which Is too cold. l
would about as soon see 4 calf fall dead
shiyer, for know that the food was too
cold. and that the chill would be most
sure TO cause indigestion. A perfectly
healthy calf or child is one that receives
no check by disease from birth TO mstur-
ity. With proper treatment such would
be common.
The danger from feeding grain 70
young calves Is due to the fact thst IL
Is Irritating 10 the digestive organs,
which are not fitted for IL. Cooking
grain improves 1t; II given spsringly
with milk the stomach gradually learns
10 dispose of Il. consider il perfectly
safe 10 have box OF clean, dry wheat
bran within reach OF calf At any time,
as he viii not eat IL before he can digest
it. II Is grain forced down In liquid thar
does harm. scting as drench or physie
when IL Is not needed. | would also have
wisp Of sweet hay tied IN bundle and
hung over the pen within reach for the
calf TO nibble at as soon as IL pleases.
This will usually be by the third or
fourth week.
Flax seed crushed Is considered one
OF the best grain feeds for young calves
to take the place Of fat taken from whole
milk. II must be cooked 10 a jelly and
given sparingly, tablespoonful 10 a
meal at first. increasing quantity as the
snimal grows. In cool weather enough
10 last few days eau be cooked at once.
| would not dare to try 10 raise calf
by hand without good dsiry thermom-
eter so could know the exact temper
sture OF the food given. would have
II at blood heat till the calf was at least
three weeks old, and not much lower as
long as the bulk OF the food is given In
liquid form. Another important matter
Is 10 make no sudden changes in the
quantity or quality OF the food.
With sufficient care cslves can be
raised any time Of year, but the fall IL
the best time. The weather Is then cool
and there Is no temptation TO turn TO
pasture while too young to depend on
grass for food. Flies are annoying TO
Young calves in summer and often
greatly retard growth. Good dry hay is
far better than grass so long "a they
have milk. Grass is TOO loosening TO
the bowels. A calf designed for the
dairy should be fed for muscle growth
rather than for fat. Wheat bran and oat
meal with little linseed Is better than
corn meal.
inexperienced persons often have
difficulty In teaching calves 10 drink.
The longer they are allowed 10 suck
the COW the greater the difficulty. IL
Is better to begin day or two old
before the sucking habit Ia formed or
firmly fixed. Sucking comes by instinct.
Drinking has 10 be learned, and IL Ia \
foolish msn that gets out OF patience
aud cuffs baby calf because IL doesn't
understand having It's nose crowded
into dish Of milk. When the feeding
hour arrives the calf is In sucking but
not drinking mood. NV way Is to milk
the COW aud then let the calf suck the
empty udder q few minutes. Taken
away then IL win generally suck the
fingers readily, or almost anything il can
get hold Of. 1 now take its head be-
tween my legs and with two fingers Of
one hand in It's mouth, and the pail OF
milk in the other, gradually, but kindly,
bring the calf's muzzle and the milk to-
gether, being careful not 10 let the
mouth get too deeply in the pail. so as
TO choke the calf By keeping the fin
gers little way apart the calf soon gets
taste Of the warm milk, and the first
lesson Is learned.
The chief objection TO drinking Is that
the milk Is swallowed too rapidly, and
the usual amount Of saliva, digestive
fluid, Is not incorporated with the milk.
The use of Smsll's calf feeder with It's
teat Of rubber will prevent this. Ii IL
important that all dishes used for feed
ing should be kept sweet and clean. Us
ing tainted milk vessels for feeding
young snimals is like playing with
poison. Another point to be remember
ed 10 raising calves Is not to let them lie
out In the pasture cold nights in the fall,
nor In hard storms. Keep them COM
fortsble at all times. Otherwise you may
find that Farming don't psy."-New
England Farmer.
WHERE DOES THE FAT COME FROM
| The cow with her milk prOducing Ia a