The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-11-05

oIHSHinS Up tHe ups OF the mar ID
When a wcll-fcd and properly devcl-
opod calf IS brought into the show or
sale ring il should present a pleasing
appearance. In order to do this it
should be clean, w~ell-grOOmed, halter
broken and trained. TO train Il calf,
put Il halter on it and teach it 10 lead
and 10 stand Squarely on all four feet
with head alert so rs 10 exhibit its
best features. 1t should become ac-
customed 10 being handled by strang-
ers, seeing strange sights, and hearing
unusual sounds, such as it will see
and hear at the show or sale. \
good calf is frequently placed below
an inferior one because the Judge can
not put his hand on it TO judge il cor
rectly. The trained animal that stands
correctly and poses" SO TO speak, has
the advantage over one that fiincheS,
Kicks and pulls OF the halter, and
stands with its feet in such n posi-
ton AZ TO give the appearance Of a
weak back, narrow chest, and poorly
developed rump.
For a few months before the show
the calf may be fed three times a day
with good results. Some feeders use
molasscs, chopped feeds and wet
m2SheS. As Il rule, however. more sat
iSfactory results will be obtained from
using q good combination of the com
mon feeds produced on the farm. The
healthy, normal calf will make sufii-
cient gains and have a desirable fin
ish with such feeds without coaxing or
tempting it's appetite.
Summer Care of Calf.
The calf should be kept in n cool
barn during the day and allowed 10
Craze at night for Il few months previ-
Gus TO the show. The hot sun from
June to September will "sunburn' the
hair and cause it TO appear some
what dead. rough and coarse, and
10 lose its glossy appearance. Bur
lap bags suspended by wires from
above the calf to brush against may be
used to advantage to repel the flies
which greatly annoy q calf. The
stable also may be darkened and many
flies kept out by lacking burlap sacks
over the windows and doors. If in
the pasture the calf should have
plenty OF shade.
A few weeks before the show the
calf may be blanketed to advantage.
The blanket, which is usually made of
burlap, is used mainly to keep flies
from worrying the calf, to give the
hair n more glossy appearance, and
TO help mellow or soften the hide. The
burlap used for this purpose should
extend from the neck TO the tail and
come down over the sides.
The calf should be groomcd or thor
oughly brushed each day for several
weeks before the show. Brushing
lengthwise of the body with consider
loose and pliahle and gradually re-
move the old hair. The final brushing
on a short-naired calf should be in the
same direction as the hair, the hand
each time following the brush. The
hand will draw the oil to the tip OF
TIC III y NOoitu NlOtn lHN. Ut uSCu
TO advantage in removing the dust
and dirt. The final brushing for the
lond-haired breeds (Shorthorn, Here.
ford, Galloway should be opposite to
the direction of the hair to make 1t
loose and fluffy. Short-haired ami
mails (Aberdeen-Angus. also Red
Polled and Devon) are shown with the
hair smooth. Animals with long hair
ore shown with the hair curled.
Caring for Hair.
An hour or two before the calf is to
be shown rnoisten the hair with a mix
ture of reosote dip and sOapy water.
Do not make the hair too wet or II
will appear in locks instead Of loose
and fluffy. The hair on the center Of
the back should be parted with a
coarse comb along the backbone in one
straight line from the neck in front of
the shoulder to the tail. Comb the
hair on each side at right angles or
straight out from the center parting
TO the extreme edge Of the fiat portion
Of the back. Mark the hair with the
comb or brush from in front Of the
shoulders to the tail or extreme back
20 49, 1900. ThA 1:.~- -hoxII hA -