Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-01
CARE OF sRRlN0 -
CALF MEANs MUCH
TO FUTURE HERD

The herd OF the future ia cQmposeq
of the calves OF taday. 1t u therefore
very imporsaat that they be strong
and yixnrpus, II the cows have been
properly cared fer before calving, the
calves are gensrally strong when born.
Afterward the vigor OF the calves de-
Ponds upon the oAre they receive.
! The spring bora calf Ia usually
neglected more than the calf born at
any other time Of tha year, because 1t
ia a buoy season en- the farm and the
field week ia pSuslly esnsidared OF
prime lNppFtapee. The majority OF
the COWS in Iowa, freAhep during May
and luna .yhEh u the cause OF the
high death rate in our calf crop. The
yR1Aa animal "a exceedingly delicate
and II 1t successfully eemhats the
warm weather fiisa. etc. must get a
very COED start "
! The three esseatiaN for successful
Galf FaisinE are cleAnliness. care and
/ resulsrity. II we'll cared for each
should gain at least \ hound day. In
fact weight Is one Of the best guides
/ Of proper care no gain indicates that
somathiaE IL wreas.
Most calves at present ara raised
by hand; that is, they are allowed to
nurse only few times and are then
fed from pals. The common plan ~
to allow the calves to nurse once and
thus obtain the first, or colostrum milk.
after which they are fed from pals. II
the calves are weaned early they are
more easily taught to drink and the
cows forget them sooner.
WEAVING Is a critical time, but n tho
calves are handled properly at that
time there will usually be no trouble.
That is the time to pay particular at
tention to cleanliness. care and Yesn-
iarity. All pals must be scrupuiously
clean. and pens kept clean and plenty
sf bedding supplies Damp quarters or
dirty pals viii surely cause sickness.
Once stunted by sickness the calves
make slow growth and require more
feed for the same gains in weight.
Young calves require fresh clean and
warm nilk-not in large quantities but
always a little less than the appetite
demands. A. frst 20 pounds Of
milk is sufficient for one feed when
given twice daily. When fed In this
way the feeds should be as nearly as
possible ls hours apart II 1t can be
arranged. the calves should be fed
three times day for the arst week
and quantity thus correspondence re-
duced.
Regularity must not be forgotten. for
II IL one of the mast important factors
In calf raisiRs. Regular feeding and a
uniform quantity prevents such trou-
BILE. Care SHOULD be exercised in the
auaptitY or milk given. because II the
calf receivGs layge feeding one time
aud small feadng the naxt. Its d.
gsstivs system viii be weakened and
the many fatal calf diseases result. An
even Temperature is also important.
Mix sheula not BIZ allowed to stand
around in pals before being fed to the
slt, 1t should alsp have a telnpera-
ture Of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
The quantity OF milk Is Increased
gradually 80 that at two weeks OF age
the calves are getting daily "A to 10
pounds apiece, At that age, IL the
calves are vigorous. skim milk may be
substituted for whole milk. Make the
change gradually. substitutips pound
Of time. Usually the change takes
week or ten days DEPENDING on the
are offer them lttla clean dry grain,
such an hiram. bright, clean hay also
should be placed conveniently. II skim
milk is plentiful. feed up 10 20 pounds
day to each calf and continue for
several months, When it Is scarce
calves may usually be weaned at about
six weeks and put on dry feed
The spring calf will do much better
| IN the barn for the first few weeks
than ii will on grass, Fresh grass and
skim milk are not good combination
! OF feeds and it is always preferable to
] use dry feed in connection with skim
milk for the first month OF the calfs
I life. 4 well lighted and ventilated part
of the barn with a dry lot for the
calves TO run in. proves most satisfac-
| tory during the spring months.
1 The care during the first few weeks
| is very important il healthy calves are
1 10 he raised. Cleanliness. care and
regularity In feeding return good
proAtsr In s.reAs. vigorous calves.