Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-29

Probably more calves are started with
/ better results at this season than any
other find spring calves much more
satisfactory than the early fall ones.
While October and November veals are
always well up in price, calves started
then have a cold, hard winter ahead,
and if turned to grass with the yearlings
are apt TO grow slowly, if they do not
suffer positive stunt. If kept in the
! barn eighteen months the cost is apt to
destroy the profit, except i'll the case of
exhibition stock. In the ring, of course,
the early calf has the advantage.
To get a good calf one must start with
the cow. We aim to allow the cows TO
90 dry about two months, giving them
four quarts of good feed and plenty OF
roughage while dry. We always keep
the date of service, but do not rely much
on this. The careful herdsman who
watches his cows closely can tell nearly
when to expect a calf; and week or SO
before the COW comes in We place her In
box stall. near the other cows and in
plain sight, giving her identical care in
every way, except to reduce the gram,
Ii the COW is apt To have trouble with
her bag. or in the case of heifers, which
often make bags for long time pre-
viOus 10 calving, We aim TO have the
animal in nice condition, and when sep
arated take the grain away entirely.
Others we allow a couple of quarts OF
bran and oats mixed. We seldom have
any trouble with the cows at calving,
and after birth COW and calf are let to-
gether about forty-eight hours, giving
the cow a reasonable quantity of luke
warm water and stripping out carefully.
In summer cool, underground stall Is
ideal. and if the COW is very fat would
advise leaving her in for week, for If
allowed in the sun and with free access
To water milk fever and dead COW are
the result, as | am sure from sad expert
ence. The COW is now turned out and
MIXED with the rest.
We seldom try TO feed the calf until
twenty-four hours have elapsed, and in
stubborn cases longer. In first trying
to teach the calf to drink it is better to
use small pail and hold it up to the
calf than to use large one and try to
force the calfS head down, as this is
contrary to nature aud apt to arouse
large amount of opposition. Always
give the calf two fingers and coax his
head gently into the pail, withdrawing
them gradually after a time, when he
will drink without trouble. Ifone finger
only is used it is likely to be lots of suck
and little milk.
The calf is fed new milk direct from
the COW for 4 month or so, or until 1t
will eat bran and oats, when the new
milk is replaced by skim, and later this
is diluted with water, the object being
to give the growing animal large digest
i've powers. In connection with this,
have found that HOlstein milk is bet
ter for calves than the richer, Jersey or
AYRSHIRE, and that often scours can be
cured by changing the feed of the dam.
Our calves are turned in clover field
near the barn after the grass gets some
what toughened, and are allowed the
run of dark stable during the summer.
They are given what grain they will eat
nicely. During the following winter the
common ration is four quarts of chop,
By following this method | have had
jersey and Ayrshire calves that weigh
ed better than seyenty-tive pounds at
birth, and at one year old were nicely
developed animals.-Lee Hathaway, Al
pine, y. Y.