The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-17

ment or AsrlCulture)
Poorly nourished cows give birth to
weak, puny calves which are hard TO
raise. The feeding Of the calf, there
fore, begins before II is born, The food
elements necessary for the develop
ment of the calf are taken into the
| stomach of the COW, digeSted, assimi-
lated. and transmitted to the calf
| through the umbiliCal cord, the con-
neCtiOn between the mother and the
calf. 1t Is evident that II the COW does
not receive food enough to keep her
self in thrifty condition and at the
| same time develop her calf. both she
and the calf must suffer. In endeav-
oring to raise good, thrifty calves many
| dairymen handicap themselves at the
start by not properly feeding the preg-
nant cows. Such cows should have an
abundance of palatable and succulent
or juicy feed in order to insure good
body flesh and healthy, thrifty condi-
| ton at calving time. The calves will
then be well developed, strong, and
sturdy, and ready to respond normally
to proper feed and care.
Separation From. Cow.
1t is assumed that the calf is not To
be raised by sucking the COW, but is To
be fed by hand. The longer ii sucks,
| therefore, the more difficult ii will be
to teach II to drink. On the other
hand, the first Cor colostrum) milk of
the COW possesses properties which
| stimulates the calf's stomach and other
| digestive organs to action. ColoStrum
Is natures physiC, and for this reason
the young calf should always receive
its mothers milk at first The calf is
sometimes weak at birth, and for this
reason should have nouriShment as
soon as possible. Ii is usually easier
to induce the calf to suck the cow than
TO try TO make IL drink from the pail.
Because of these facts most dairymen
prefer TO let the calf remain with its
mother for about 4S hours immediate
| ~ after birth. An additional advantage
| of this practice is that the dam will
carefully dry the calf by licking within
the first few hours of its life. In the
case of a weak calf or one that does
not gain strength readily it may be
best to allow it to remain longer than
4S hours, although under such circum-
stances it is sometimes difficult To
teach the calf tn drink, and serious
trouble may result from its failure to
obtain food.
Teaching Calf to Drink.
10 a "A 81 -, L.. In,
thrifty, vigorous condition when il Is
taught to drink. 1t should be kept
without food for at least II hours, at
! the end OF which time 1t will be hungry
and will usually drink milk from the
pail much more readily than when not
| hungry. Warm, fresh milk from the
mother should be put into clean pail
md held near the floor In front of the
calf which will generally begin to
nose" about the pail. Once II gets n
| 'aste of milk, 1t will usually drink
without further trouble. Often, how
| ever, IL is necessary for the attendant
to put one or two fingers into the
calf's mouth, drawing the hand down
into the milk as the calf begins TO suck
the fingers. The calf In this way gets
taste Of the milk and often begins to
drink without further coaXing. If not,
the process must be repeated. Some
times however, the calf cannot be In
duced TO drink In this way, and force
has to be resorted TO. In such case
the feeder, facing the same direction
as the calf, should straddle it's neck
and back the animal into corner,
The pail of milk should be held In one
hand and the nose of the calf grasped
with the other, two fingers being In It's
mouth. The nose of the calf is then
forced into the milk, when II will usual
ly begin to drink.
Sometimes valuable calf, too weak
at birth either to suck the COW or To
drink from pail, can be saved by
feeding from bottle, either with or
without n nipple.
Cleanliness First Essential.
Cleanliness is absolutely essential 10
the successful raising of calves. This
Is equally necessary In feed pens, bed
ding, and pals or utensils. All milk
fed should be fresh and clean, and the
same Is true Of other feeds Calf pens
should always be kept clean and be
filled with plenty of dry bedding. Great
care should be taken in washing the
milk pals. These should be thorough
~ sealded with boiling water, or ster-
ilized with steam If possible. Discard
cd feed should be removed from the
feed boxes, which should be thorough
~ brushed and cleaned each day. At
tentl0n 10 these details Is the best pre-
ventiye of dlsease Nearly all dIsor-
ders or diseases of the calf are caused
either directly or indirectly by lack Of
cleanliness.