The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-05-29
Live Stock.
GALE FEEDING.

Some advocate taking the calf away
as soon as dropped.
Itshould be remembered, however,
that the power to give milk is the re-
suit of stimulation and maternal in
stinct. It frequently happens that
the calf is unable to consume all the
milk produced Immediately after it
is dropped. The result is a portion
is left in the udder. This, of course,
produces Inflammation and other
troubles of this organ. 1t fails to
stimulate the activity of the milk
gland to it's utmost capacity and
soon results in a deterioration of the
milk flow and a loss of the natural
inherent secretory function of this
organ.
After the third day take the calf
away and feed for two weeks or so
on whole milk, then on skim milk
and adjuncts, chiefly 1axseed Cruel.
The milk must be fed at blood heat,
between 90 and 100 degrees Fahren-
heit. The calf should early be taught
to eat a mixture of grain and fodder.
In the dairy the object is a rapid
growth of muscle, but not fat. No
difficulty will be experience in teach
ing the calf to drink if a nipple is
used. Equally good calves can be
grown on skim milk and adjuncts, as
on whole milk, and at much less eX-
pense when properly managed. The
calves should be handled constantly
from the beginning to make them
gentle. Handle the udder parts in
the heifer and thus stimulate the
flow of blood to these parts, directly
increasing the activity of the glands
and developing the milk-producing
organs to the fullest extent. Breed
at about eighteen to twenty months,
so that the calves may be dropped at
from twenty-seven to twenty-nine
months. Breeding too young IS
detrimental to the mother, for she
cannot develop properly and support
a foetUs at the same time, and a
stunted heifer will make a COW de-
fcient in stamina.
The calf should first be ''mOthered"
before it is taken from the dam. This
clears the skin of effete matter and
materially aids the circulation. 1t is
very important that this be done as
the calf is in a weakened condition
and this aids in the development of
it's strength. After it is done the
calf may be removed without suffer
ing. In all instances, it should re-
ceive the first milk or cOlOstrum.
This contains properties that are
purgative in nature and clears the
alimentary canal of materials that
otherwise might cause congestion of
the various digestive organs. If you
remove the calf from the dam as
soon as dropped and fail to give the
colostrum, disastrous results may
follow. In glancing at the compost
ton of cOlostrum milk it is seen to
be comparatively low in water, high
in solids, abnormally high in casein
and albumen, low in sugar and high
in ash. 1t is thus especially adapted
to the needs of the young and grow
ing. Those who have handled calves
have been astonished by the rapid
growth and strength displayed by
young animals several days after
birth. The colostrum-milk is the
best means of providing the animal
with the requisite food for growth
and development. This matter must
therefore receive due consideration
when weaving calves and raising
them by hand. 1t is no trouble to
raise a calf by hand provided arti-
fetal nippers are used. The calf will
then suck quite as readily as from
the udder of the COW. This prevents
its gOrging itself and producing
scOUrs and other intestinal troubles.
Should these result from careless
feeding they can be remedied by the
addition of lime water and by feed
ing in such a manner that the ami
NAL will have to take the milk slowly
so that it will become thoroughly
mixed with the saliva and other
digestive juices and properly assimi-
lated.
COlostrum-milk creams as we'll as
other milk, but it has a very high
color due in part to the effete ma
terial contained in it. This is caused
by the incomplete disintegration of