Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-12

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
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 u growing ra-
ton. This does not necessarily Eean
that the ration be expensive for the
best calf raisers are able to develop
their young stock on substitutes for
high-priced feed.
Usually vigorous calf begins dur
ing the second week to pick ut 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
yided. Clover hay, alfalfa hay, or, II
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 it does not cause scours; this
feed should be fed sparingly at first
and increased only after the calf gets
accustomed to it. The essential points
are that the roughage be of good quail
ity and kept clean. The usual mistake
in providing roughage is that it is not
kept clean. 1t is either placed on the
floor, where it soon becomes contain
mated with the droppings, or is put
into a manger or feed box, so placed
that the calf can easily spoil it. Hay
should be furnished ut first only a
handful at a time and placed so that
it cannot get soile6. A latticework
rack. of metal or wood, is useful II II
is placed high enough from the floor
so that the calf cannot soil the nay IN
any manner but still have it within
easy reach. This rack can be so con-
structed that it 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 it will eat up clean. Inc
quantity taken up to the time 1t is
one month old is very small. The rack
should be emptied every day and fresh
roughage supplied.
Care in Feeding SilaCe.
Silage may be given after the cali is
one month old, but the utmost care
should be observed to be sure that it is
fresh from the silo. For this reason
very young calves, except in the hands
Of 4 very careful feeder, should not be
fed silage, as it ferments rapidly when
exposed to the air. Care should De
used in starting with silage, using only
q little at first and gradually increas
ing the quantity as the animal be-
comes used to it. Generally there Is
no danger that the calf will get toe
much rOughagc if it is clean and o.
the proper quality.
II the calf has access to good pas
ture during the first six months it neet
not receive other rOughage. Pastures
used in summer should contain plent!
of shade. 1t is not advisable, however
10 have a calf under two months OF ag'
on pasture in the early spring.
Grain for Calves.
Whole milk is natures balanced "a
tion'' for the calf. When skim or sepa
rated milk is fed, other feeds are uset
to supply the fat which has been re
moved. Proprietary calf feeds o
meals, for feeding with separated milk
have been put on the market. Man
of these have merit, but by using tn
feeds usually found on the farm o
in markets nearby the farmer cal
generally mix grain ration which
as good, and costs less.
Wheat bran is grain which is read
lily taken by young calves. 1nasmuc
as one of the essential points is to IL
(luce the calf to eat grain as early a
possible. bran in many cases is one
the ingredients in the mixture. Corr
Il feed very commonly found on tn
farm, has an excellent physiological e1
feet upon cattle of all ages and to
great es tent may take the place OF tn
fat removed from the milk. 1t is there
fore one of the very best grains
use with skim milk. Experiments !
Virginia tend to show that corn fe
: to calves should be cracked rathe
, than finely ground. Cracked corn an
wheat bran therefore should be the b:
I sis of the feed mixture. Ground oat
are very good for the purpose, but the
are not grown ON the farm SO common
ly as corn, and in many cases co:
much more per unit of feed than cor
and bran. The following mixtures al
recommended:
I. Three parts cracked corn and l pa
, | wheat bran.
2. Three parts cracked corn. pa
. wheat bran, and ! part ground oats.
o 3. Three parts cracked corn. l pa
n wheat bran, l Part ground oats, and
part linseed meal.
L. Five parts cracked corn, pa
K wheat bran, part ground oats. and pa
2 blood meal.
. s. Oats, ground.
= Grain in Second Week.
:, When the calf is in its second wee
> 1t should begin to receive grain, M
- when one month old it should eat abo1
;, half q pound a day. After this tin
s Protein and Mineral Matter.
o Protein and mineral matter are q