The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-10
Raising The
Dairy HeifeI
BY Prof. G. w. Barnes

advantage may ne easily uestioyeu
by mismanagement of the dairy heif-
er. In other words, dairy heifer
that is we'll bred may never make a
good COW, not even as good as her
mother II she is not properly develop
ed in her two year and three year
old.
Milk production is a natural charac-
| teristic of mammals, but the amount
that IS natural is only a sufficient
quantity to nourish the offspring UNI
| til 1t can subsist on some other kind
| of food which 1t may be able to Sc
cure for itself. In the case Of range
cattle the natural period of milk
production would probably average
from five to six months and the
amount produced would probably not
average over s pounds per day. In
the development of the dairy COW
breeders have sought to increase the
amount of milk produced per day and
also to lengthen the period of lacta-
ton or the time during which the
COW will give milk. This ability to
give more milk than nature requir-
ed may be termed an acquired charac-
teristic. 1t will be transm tied from
the COW to her calf, but unless the
conditions under which this charac-
teristic was developed are continued,
I the characteristic will be lost. and
the animal will drop back to natural
production. 1t is these cond tons
that tend to produce large quantities
of milk and to develop a persistent
habit Of milking, that must be care
fully considered in properly develop
ing the dairy bred heifer. The de-
velopment of the dairy bred heifer
begins til her feeding when calf.
II the calf is well nourished and is
kept healthy 1t should develop a
good appetite and should early learn
to eat hay and other roughage. Hay
should always be provided plentiful
ly, as this bulky food tends to pro-
mote and develop the digestiv, sys-
tenn of the young animals. 1t Is 40.
visable to feed the grain mixed with
a light roughage such as cotton seed
hulls, II possible, as this makes a
lighter feed, and one that will be
better masticated and digested.
Some animals are somewhat dainty
as to their food and do not eat with
relish that should always be notice
able in the healthy and well nourish-
ed animals. This is often a result
Of disorganized condition of the d.
gestive system and should be correct
ed without delay as 1t may soon be-
come a fixed habit and the animal
that has poor appetite will never
be profitable dairy animal. Care
should be exercised in feeding not
to overfeed. AS a general rule, to
feed more than the animal will con.
sumo is wasteful. 1t is a safe prop
osition to feed as much as the ami
| SohouihC SUN WlSh IOI
more, but II more is fed than will be
consumed the appetite for the next
meal 10 decreased, and the animal
will soon be refusing to eat at all,
or as the common expression is, will
be off feed. The best results in
developing good heifer calves are Sc.
cured by feeding plenty of good,
bright alfalfa hay during the first
season in connection with skim
milk and grain rat on consisting of
equal parts of weight of bran, oats
and shelled corn. The calves may be
allowed to run on small grass pas
ture, but the best development of
the calf will be secured by keeping
1t on a dry feed ration during the
first season, especially IL It is born
later than the first OF May. II they
are turned out under the false idea
OF economizing, the young things
suffer much from the heat, flies and
the grass beng short and insufficient
the calf is stun.ed in it's growth. !,
begins the first winter in poor con
dition and 1t never fully RECEIVERS
from the setback. When well cared
: for and nourished during the frs
season, sufficient growth and devel
opment will result so that the yonnl
heifer may be bred when not owe
eighteen or twenty months old, anC
be ready to take place in the here
when she is two years past, or \, hel
she Is about thirty months old. Thu
early breeding requires extra deyel
opment, which can only be secure,
l. by extra care and attention and al
l. abundance OF wholesome nutrition
. food-food that will produce plent,
d OF bone and lean meat, but not al OK
+ cess of fat. The tendency 10 yo
, fat should never be encouraged, got
d continuous steady growth is Away