Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-08-25
Beginning of the Cow.

Some one has said that man, the good
man or the bad one, has his start hun.
dred years before he is born. 1t is not
much different with the COW; but in the
present article I wish to speak only OF
the cow after it has been taken from
the mother after birth.
More than a little, I fancy, of the fu-
ture of the COW depends upon the start
she gets within the first few months OF
existence. Cows are made or unmade
at very early period of life. A couple
of years ago, wishing to increase my
herd little, bOughta a couple of heifer
calves about six months old of neigh
Dor. They had the advantage of good
parentage and seemed thrifty, but were
much smaller than they should have
been at that age. l thought that by
using a little extra care could bring
them up to the standard in size in the
course of few months; so took them
home and began feeding them more
literally than they evidently had been
fed in the past. All the following win
ter gave them plenty of good hay and
ration of grain every day. And knick-
knacks in the way of potato parings and
milk from the house we happened to
have we also gave the calves.
They responded somewhat to this
treatment, but their progress was slow,
so slow, in fact, that when spring came
they were considerably understood when
it came time for them to 60 out to past
ure. hesitated somewhat about
breeding them, but finally did so and
put them into the best possible pasture.
The next winter they were given a
generous diet. In spite of all they were
quite small when they began to give
milk, and continue so to the present
time. Both the heifers, however, give
a good quantity of milk and the test
shows that it is of fair degree of rich
ness. But if they could have had better
treatment when calves am sure they
would have made far better cows. l
believe it pays to feed the calf literally
during its early life.
The calves raise myself are started
on sweet milk right from the cow. At
ter a few weeks they are gradually
changed to skim milk, at first only a
pint being added and the quantity in
creased little by little until in the course
of week or ten days it is taking all
skim milk. As this change is being
made, l begin to feed some grain to
make up for the elements which are
lacking in the skim milk. For this
purpose prize buckwheat very highly.
1t is rich in just the kind of food the
calf needs. This l feed dry, putting a
little in box after the milk ration has
been given. 1t is wonderful how soon
the calf comes to look for the grain
ration. About the same time l COM
mence feeding the calf hay. A small
handful in a potato crate placed near
the calf soon affords it chance to
crafty its desire to nibble something.
Gradually the amount is increased and
this ration kept up. Even after the
calf has been turned out to pasture 1t
will continue to eat good big ration of
hay night and morning.
Every day my calves have fresh sup
ply of water. think not all of us place
a high enough estimate on this part OF
the calves food. 1t is worth while to
see to all these small particulars. For
we are raising calves, most of us, for the
future good we may get from them.
This is the way start my calves to-
ward cowhood. l have been we'll pleas
ed with the result. The points l have
given are the result of experience and
observation. They are perhaps more
valuable to me on that account.-Farm
Home.