Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-17
some things in addition to hay and en- silage eorn-New England Farms
CALF RAISING.
Profitable To Raise More Than Usual
 Number of the Weil.Bred.

It is, of course. needless to say that calf raising is essential to a permanent system of dairy farming For it is we'll known that the dairy farmer must replace with new animals amout one fifth of his herd each year. And, when one considers the enormous losses of dairy cattle in other coun tries, losses which our farmers may be called on, in a large measure, to make good. 1t seems plausible to say that it will be profitable for farmer to raise even more than the. usual number of l well l-bred calves. And it may not be out of place to restate the well founded principles of feeding calves and present new ideas, so that those interested may raise their calves better and as cheaply. as is consistent with good re- suits.
 It4is generally considered best to re- move newborn calves from their | dams within a day or two, though it l is necessary, to feed the milk of the dam to five or six days of age. After l this age, any whole milk may be fed | to about two weeks of age at which l time ski,n milk can gradually replace | the whole nlilR, ten to twelve days be- | ing taken to change. The amount of liquid to feed will be based on the size
 and vigor of given calf: six to ten l pounds a day is enough at the be- 1 ginning, and this can be raised to fourteen pounds as required; sixteen or eighteen pounds may be fed if l available.
 Along with this milk, some grain and hay should be fed after the calves are a few weeks old. The grain mix
 ture should be composed of easily di-
 gested grains as corn ori honliny
 ground oats, bran, linseed oil meal etc. The following mixture will give good results:
 100 pounds corn or honiny.
 100pounds ground oats.
 l 50 pounds bran.
 l Up to 25 pounds of linseed oil mea, may also be added if desired. Good mixed hay is satisfactory for calves | and clover ajso is excellent; alfalfa may prove too laxative The amour
 af hay need not be limited in mos,
 cases, but the grain should be meas
 ured or weighed out after the calves
 eat it we'll Care should be takeI
 that the grain and hay supply a goodl. amount of mineral: it is generally ad
 visable to add one or two pounds o
 salt per 100 pounds of grain, and ofte1
 bone meal, ground limestone or rocl | These above foods, along with a plen
 tiful supply of fresh water, general.
 form the ration of calves up to sir ! months Of age.
 It would be very desirable in som
 sections where market milk is sold t feed substitute for the above milk 1 This subject of substitutes for mil l will not be taken up in this very brie | l discussion except to say that it has no , | been found very satisfactory to re , move all the milk from the ration un
 til calves are at least four or fiv 5 months, of age.
 The surroundings of the calves. a ] we'll as their feeding, should be give 1 Eproper attention. A roomy, we'll } bedded, well-lighted and welI-yentila ! ted pen should be provided in the barr S and outdoor run for exercise in ia ], varoble weather. With proper feed s ing and care, one may expect health. , vigorous calves which make goo = gains. One and a quarter pounds gai
 | per day for the first six months Il none too large, especially for Holsteir s and Ayrshires.e But the aim should = to have the calves gain the maximum q amount in this first and best growth V period.
 : In conclusion, few general piece e of advice can be given. which in q fe il words, contain the fundamentals ( . success in calf-rafsing: il l. Don't overfeed. 2, Be fegula r 3. Be clean.--John A. kuehling, Cot $ necticut Agricultural College.