The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-04-22
SKINNED MILK FOR CALvE 5.
How They Should BE Handled to
Make the Most Out of Them.

Make the Most Out of Them.
The greatest drawback to the dairy
man or farmer at present is the
skinned milk calf. Well bred steer
calves, allowed to run with their dam
until weaving time, will sell readily at
$50 to $50, and the demand is greater
than the supply. Labor is needed TO
raise a calf in this way. and the only
expense is the cost of keeping the COW
Il year. The skinned milk calf needs
care two or three times a day. The time
is short, and with the usual method of
handling it is a runt, thin, i'll shaped,
unhealthy looking, and sells for s. to
So. Lost value between skinned
milk calf and one allowed to run with
the COW reduces the profits made from
milking. Skinned milk calves are
worth as much at weaving time as
calves that run with their dams, and
pure bred calves raised on skinned
milk have been in condition for the
show ring when six months old and
have sold at $75 and $125 each.
In making a trial in feeding ON skim
med milk the feeder must allow the
calf to run with the cow until the cows
udder becomes all right and her milk
good. Then take it from the cow and
leave without feed for twentyfour
hours, when it will be hungry enough
to be easily taught to drink. The first
10 ION dc of q y1
whole milk a day, four pounds in the
morning, two at noon and four pounds
at night. The second weeks feed
should be the same as the first, except
it can be given in two feeds, morning
and night. At the end of two or three
SKINNED milk. The first feed of skim
med milk is one pint, the second feed
one and one-half pints and the third
two pints. AS the skinned milk is in
creased the whole milk must be de-
creased until the entire feed becomes
skinned milk, the change being at the
rate of half pound per feed. At the
end of a month after the calf is taken
from the cow the daily amount given
is from twelve to fourteen pounds per
calf, at two months eighteen pounds, or
twenty-five to twenty-four pounds per
day per calf. A quart of milk weighs
little over two pounds, and the num-
Der of quarts fed is only half the num-
Der of pounds.
This may look to be a small amount
to many feeders, but is all that the
calf will eat and thrive on and gain
the sufficient quantity. The milk can
be fed in tin pals, and those and the
cans in which the skinned milk is
kept must be thoroughly washed and
scalded each time after feeding and
when possible set in the sun. Keep the
calves from sucking each others ears
by keeping them separate for half an
hour after feeding, until their mouths
become dry. Keep fresh water within
reach of the calves at all times, and as
soon as the calves are taken from their
mother they should be dehorned.
The hair on the place where the horn
would appear should be clipped off
with shears, the end of stick Of caus-
tic potash is wet III cold water and the
| spot over the horn rubbed with it until
the skin appears raw, after which a
light scab is formed, but soon disap-
| pears and the growth of the horn is
| prevented. Give the calves shelter in
cold weather and an open shed in
| warm weather where they can. go for
shade. Keep the shelter and yards
| clean and frequently sprinkle lime
| around them. Watch the calves close
~ and if one begins to scour cut down
his feed at once and give from one to
| two ounces of castor oil. If this is not
| sufficient give ten to fifteen drops of
| laudanum a day in the milk, and the
trouble usually stops in two to three
| days. Inoculate the calves when two
| to four months old to prevent blackleg.
| Treat them kindly at all times and
have them become pets.-Epitomist.
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