Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-10-15

Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic
70 solicited. Address all communications N
tended for this department 70 Hn0Y D
AAM0ND. Agricultural Editor Oxford Dam
Starting the Calves Right.
Calves may be raised on whole milk
on the COW, on skim milk, or with NJ
milk at all, said the Maritime Farmer,
some time ago, in an article on this sub
ject, and 1t is just ~ true to-day "a II
ever was.
The most pratical and cheapest way Il
to raise them on skim milk. OF course
skim milk must be supplemented BY
other feeds to replace In . measure The
fat removed BY skimming. Good feeds
are oil meal, oats, corn, bran, gluten, Of
wheat. A more desirable feed is mix
ture of all or some of these to form meal
with nutritive ratio of :5. A liberal
supply Of good hay should be kept be-
fore the calves. This is the first thing
they learn to eat. Perhaps the best IL
early cut or second crop clover hay. All
hay should be fine. Some bone meal
should be supplied to furnish mineral
matter. Bone meal is indispensable to
cattle In the barn all winter. The calves
should also have salt at all times. Salt.
ing at intervals sometimes causes over
drinking and consequent scours.
Calves over q week old should have all
the pure water they want after they have
had their milk.
The pals in which the calves are fed
should be kept perfectly clean, thus kill
ing all germs and bacteria, which would
be apt to cause disease. Their feed
boxes should be clean and sweet.
The stalls and pens should be clean
and dry aud we'll beddsd. 1t Is . good
plan to sprinkle the floor with land plas-
ter. This will correct tho odors and sb-
sorb moisture. II possible, have the
pen where the sun will shine In 1t. Sun
shine is q great destroyer of germs.
The pens should also be disipfected with
some good disinfeotant. Do all you can
to prevent disease or disorders of the
calf. A calf is very hard to treat success
fully.
The care of calf should begin when
It is still unborn. The mother should
have laxative food just before calving.
Bran, oil meal or wheat are good, be-
,ause they are stimulating as we'll as
laxative. When about to caive, q COW
should be placed In box stall alone and
Ds left perfectly quiet. Never disturb
,ow by trying to help her, as COW rare
y needs help. Give her plenty of time,
heifer. Darken the stall If
possible.
The calf should be left with the COW
'or day or so. II the calf Is small or
weak, leave 1t q long time. Under any
circumstances it should get the colos-
rum. This is practically rich In albumi-
,oids and Is of much benefit to new
BORN calf.
But the longer calf remains with ito
mother, the harder 1t 10 to teach 1t to
lrink, and the more It feels the change
rom sucking to hand feeding. When the
,ow is taken out and placed In her stall,
he calf should be left undisturbed for
rom twelve to twenty -four hours. 1t
hould be left till 1t is very hungry. 1t
loes not pay to waste time with q calf
y hen 1t is not hungry, for 1t spoils the
,alf and the temper OF the teacher.
When the calf will suck the fingers, take
hree pounds of milk. Have 1t very
warm, for the process of teaching the
,alf to drink cools 1t.
Back the calf up In corner, and,
placing ono knee against the body to
.eep the calf from escaping, place two
iugers in its mouth, gradually lowering
hem until the calf's mouth is In the
milk. Allow the milk to be sucked up
between the fingers. While the calf is
,usy, withdraw the fingers. Some
,alves will keep right on sucking and
Inns drink alone. Some, however will
iced a few lessons before drinking alone.
10 not lose patience with the cali and
,at it on the head. Handle 1t very gen.
" and 1t will have confidence in you, and
{ will come to you voluntarily instead
4 seeking q hole when you approach.
The first week the calf may get six to
light pounds of Its mothers milk. Al
ysys feed at a temperature OF about 30
o 100 degrees. A variation will cause
cours. And never make the mistake OF
This Ia very easy thing
o do and is the cause OF mauy calves
Ieath. :,
The second week the calf may be fed
little hay. Hay being the first thing .
alf will eat, the calf should have 1t
'ouug. The milk need not be increased
Until the second week. As soon as the
alf will eat 1t, which Is about month,
| should have meal to eat. Give 1t all 1t
yill eat as at this age 1t will not overeat.
The third or fourth week the change
nay be made from whole to skim milk.
This Ia the critical time, so the calf
hould be watched closely. First, take
.way a pound Of whole milk and add .
bound of skim. Change pound about
very two days until the change Is COM
,lets. At the first sign OF scours, cut
lown the milk and heat 1t up to l20 de.
,rees and add q little water. This will
top the disease and Is very simple.
Under no circumstances allow the cali 10
truggle along with scours.
When the change 10 complete, the
,alf may get twelve pounds OF skim milk
md two pounds OF grain, also all the
,ay 1t will eat. Increase the milk two
pounds week until the calf gets about
eighteen to twenty pounds. Do not feed
more than this. 1t will make . scrawny
Dot. belly with no lung capacity. When
, calf gets large enough to use more than
iwenty pounds of milk, 1t will be too
arge to make the most profit out OF 1t.
At six months the calf may get less
milk, say two pounds . week. until It
yets none. Give plenty Of good hay and
grain, and q little silage may be fed.
DO not get it fat and thus give tend
sncy to lay on flesh. Be sure to give the
,alf plenty of those two great necessities
,f life-salt and water.
In closing will say, little calves are
Ike children. Early learned habits are
,emem bered, and II you spoil your heif-
u, you will have spoiled COW: Never
,buse calves, but make pets OF them; let
hem have confidence in you. Teach
he little calves properly and you will
ave a herd that will be . source OF salts
action and evenue to you.
Rise and Fall Of Animals.
W. of,.n aaa tba atatemont made that