The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-12-17

tain digestive juices are not secreted
in sufficient quantities to digest well
such feeds. This is due to the fact
that the food materials in grains and
other feeds differ from those in milk
and are not as easily digested. Even
after calves are 10 days to 2 weeks OF
age securing frequently results from
the use of such feeds Some calves
can take grains much earlier than
others of the same breed. Grounu
corn or ground oats or mixture OF
the two feeds are probably the best
grains to feed calves which are fed
whole milk or skimmilk. After the
calves are one month of age, shelled
corn and whole oats may be used with
good results.
When ready to teach them to eat
grain, place small handful of thc
grain before them after they have
taken their milk. This may be placed
in the bottom Of the pail or in some
other vessel provided for that purpose.
When the calves are kept in stanch-
cons, it may be dropped into man
ger in front of them. 1t usually helps
to rub a little of the grain into the
mouth. The grain should net be fed in
the milk to very young calves. The
amount of grain should be increased
very slowly according to the size, con-
dition and appetite of the calf. Two
to three pounds of grain per day by
the time the calf is wnaned is suffici-
ent. 1t is better to slightly under-feed
than to over-feed and thereby cause
indigestion. The grain should always
be fresh. Stale grains should never
be allowed to collect in the feed box.
Where small quantities Of grain mixed
with saliva are left in boxes, they
often decay and become foul and the
calf refuses to eat because of them.
While the calf receives ten or more
pounds of milk, there is no need of
feeding grains high in protein, such
as, linseed meal, linseet oil meal,
gluten feed, etc. Sufficient protein is
supplied in the milk. AS soon as the
milk is decreased, some such grain
should be added to the ration; but
cotton-seed meal should not Ee used
before the. calf is six months of age,
because. in many cases serious results
have followed its use. If feeding corn
or oats. or both VIXEN ready to reduce
the milk, add about 4 pound of linseed
oil meal or .25 pound of bran for each
pund (pinC) o. milk removed; or bet
ter,suse one-half as much of each.
The following are good mixtures
when the calf is off milk:
ID
2 parts corn meal
1 part bran or shorts
1 part oil meal
(2)
1 part corn meal
8 parts bran
/ part ground oats
(3)
5 parts corn meal
5 parts ground oats
1 part blood meal
(4)
1 part corn meal
/ part middlngs
2 parts gluten feed
(5)
1 part corn meal
l part ground oats
1 part ground soybeans
co.
/ part corn meal
l part ground oats
Alfalfa hay at will
All of the above rations except No.
may be fed with clover hay and en-
silage unless the calves are on pasture.
After the heifer is cne year of age,
she may be made to depend largely on
clover or other legume hay and corn
silage until near calving when she
should receive some grain.
At first much of the hay and grain
will be left but it should be pisced
before the calf daily to teach it to eat.
The hay should be leafy clover and
not stems alone. 1t IS not practical
to weigh the hay in quantities less
than one pound. Feed a small or
large handful.
ROughage. At the same time the
calf is being taught to eat grain, it
may be taught to eat hay. Only hay
Of the best quality should be used for
this purpose. The best hay is bright,
leafy clover which has been cut early.
When clover hay can not be secured,
soybean or pea and oat hay may be
raised to take its place. If timothy
or other grasses must be used for hay.
they should be cut early and cured in
good condition for this purpose. AL
falfa hay is excellent after the milk is
1t must be fed with
more care than clover as it has ten
deney 10 cause the bowels to become
too loose when fed with milk. Place
a bit of the fresh hay before the calf |
daily after 10 days of age. 1t will
soon begin to pick at it and will rare
ly eat too much Of it.
Slower, sorghum, ripe timothy, etc.,
are always poor roughages for grow
ing animals, but they especially poor
For young calves.
Silage. When calves are A to 6
weeks Of age, it is usually safe to be-
gin feeding silage in small quantities.
Begin with a small handful per day
md note the results. If Indigestion
discontinue for a time. If all
Eoes well, increase tie amount very
After the calf i3 two
months of age, it may be fed silage
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