Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-12-27


These things are important rules of
good business and all successful stock
men are hard-headed business men.
Experienced cattlemen say that
''very few feeders can turn out a sat
isfactory yearling." Baby beef pro-
duction is quite new game and much
skill and experience are required to
make it win. SO let's get all the help
and information we can from every
possible source and become one Of
those feeders who can turn out good
yearling beef
Calf Fat Must Not Be Lost.
Definite rules for feeding baby beef
cannot be given, as every successful
feeder has a little different method.
will give you, in brief, the general
plan which we follow in feeding our
calves at "The Naples" and you can
make changes to fit your conditions.
However, there is one rule upon which
all feeders are agreed and that is, "DO
not lose the calf fats 1t means that
you must keep the calf coming" all
the time, especially during the weaving
period. That's the most important
time Of the life Of baby beef.
To be successful in baby beef pro-
duction you must have, to start with,
a calf of at least One-half beef breed
ing, and the more beef breeding you
have the better will be your success.
I have already written some about the
subject of breeding, but it is Of the
greatest Importance and will bear re-
peating.
Nothing will take the place Of whole
milk nursed from the COW, for profit
able baby beef production. Did you
ever see a skim milk calf that made q
good baby beef? The more milk that
a calf will nurse from a cow, or from
two COWS, the greater will be your sat
isfactiOn and profit from the baby beef
game. | believe that milk is natures
best feed for a calf and that it is the
cheapest feed you can get. [ know it
is absolutely necessary to make good
baby beef.
Feed Grain Early.
Allow calves to eat grain as soon as
they will take it. l feed mine all of
the following grain mixture they will
take: One-third cracked corn; one
third whole oats; One-third bran and
about One-tenth Oil meal, pea size. Mix
by measure and not by weight Cot
tOnseed meal is substituted for oil meal
by some, but it is the general opinion
that oil meal is better. Feed the grain
in perfectly clean, sweet feed box, or
basket.
Every little thing you can do for the
comfort and pleasure of your calf, do.
For instance, provide him with clean
water two or three times day; or q
fresh forkful of clover hay two or
three times daily A little corn silage,
if YOU have it, or green corn will be
relished by him.
Keep the calf in a clean, Well-bedded,
darkened stall away from the flies and
the sun. Turn him to his mother or
nurse COW twice daily. Pasture is Of
no advantage to q calf under year
old which is nursing. Do not let him
run and race too much. Either lead
him for exercise or turn him in small
lot night and morning.
If you are feeding fall calf, he
should be on full feed by July or Au
gust and should be eating about two
pounds of grain for 100 pounds of live
weight. At twelve or fifteen months
of age he should be in prime condition
and ready for the Christmas market,
which is usually the highest of the
year for cattle Of quality and finish.
Spring calves dropped in March and
April are usually finished for the May
and June markets, which are generally
good since few prime cattle are for
sale at that time. During December
and january they should be on full
feed so as to get to market in May
and June.