Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-03-14

All things considered, the best-devel-
oped calves make the most profitable
cows. From the time the calf is born
it should be kept growing and the high
price of feed should not prevent the
feeder from supplying a growing ra-
ton. This does not necessarily mean
that the ration be expensive for the
best calf raisers are able to develop
their young stock on substitutes for
high-priced feed.
Usually a vigorous calf begins dur
ing the second week to pick at the bed
ding or other material within its reach,
and at that time both grain and rough
age of the best quality should be pro-
vided. Glover hay, alfalfa hay, or, IL
these are not available, the most pala-
table roughage on hand should be Civ
en- the calf after the second week.. II
alfalfa Is used, care should be taken
that 1t does not cause scoursl; this
feed should be fed sparingiy at iirst
and increased only after the calf gets
accustomed to 1t. The essential points
are that the roughage be of good quail
ity and kept clean. The usual mistake
In providing roughage is that 1t is not
kept clean. 1t is either placed ON the
floor, where 1t soon becomes contains
mated with the droppings, or is put
into manger or feed box, so placed
that the calf can easily spoil 1t. Hay
should be furnished at first only
handful at time and placed so that
1t cannot get soiled. A latticework
rack, of metal or wood, is useful IL 1t
is placed high enough from the floor
so that the calf cannot soil the hay In
any manner but still have 1t within
easy reach. This rack can be SO con-
structed that 1t can be hung on the
wall or framework of the stall or pen
and removed when not needed. For
the first six months, at least, the calf
should receive all the roughage Of good
quality that 1t will eat up clean. The
quantity taken up to the time it Is
one month old is very small. The rack
should be emptied every day and fresh
roughage supplied.
Care In Feeding SiIage.
Silage may be given after the calf Is
one month old, but the utmost care
should be observed to be sure that 1t Is
fresh from the sIlo. For this reason
very young calves, except In the hands
of very careful feeder, should not be
fed silage, as 1t ferments rapidly when
exposed to the air. Care should be
used In starting with silage, using only
little at first and gradually increas-
ing the quantity as the animal be-
no danger that the calf will get too
much roughage If 1t is clean and of
the proper quality.
If the calf has access to good pas
ture during the first six months it need
not receive other roughage. Pastures
used in summer should contain plenty
of shade. 1t Is not advisable, however,
to have calf under two months Of age
on pasture In the early spring.
Grain for Calves.
Whole milk Is natures balanced RAJ
ton" for the calf. When skim or sepa-
rated milk is fed, other feeds are used
to supply the fat which has been re-
moved. Proprietary calf feeds or
meals, for feeding with separated milk,
have been put on the market. Many
Of these have merit, but by using the
feeds usually found on the farm or
in markets nearby the farmer can
generally mix grain ration which Is
as good, and costs less.
Wheat bran is grain which is read
lily taken by young calves. Inasmuch
as one of the essential points is to in
duce the calf to eat grain as early as
possible, bran In many cases Is one Of
the ingredients in the mixture. Corn,
feed very commonly found on the
farm, has an excellent physiological eff
feet upon cattle of all ages and to
great extent may take the place Of the
fat removed from the milk. 1t is there
fore one Of the very best grains to
use with skim milk. Experiments in
Virginia tend to show that corn fed
to calves should be cracked rather
than finely ground. Cracked corn and
wheat bran therefore should be the ba-
sis of the feed mixture. Ground oats
are very good fer the purpose, but they
are not grown on the farm so common
ly as corn, and in many cases cost
much more per unit of feed than corn
and bran. The following mixtures are
recommended:
1. Three parts cracked corn and / part
wheat bran.
2. Three parts cracked corn, 1 part
wheat bran, and 1 part ground oats.
3. Three parts cracked corn, / part
wheat bran. / part ground oats, and
part linseed meal.
T. Five parts cracked corn, 1 part
wheat bran. part ground oats. and part
blood meal.
g. Oats, ground.
Grain In Second Week.
When the calf is in its second week
1t should begin to receive grain, and
when one month old 1t should eat about
half . pound day. After this time