The Bozeman courier., 1921-04-20

quately, and just after weaving, when
the youngster is learning to eat new
feed. "Selling milk is the greatest
detriment to stock raising" Vermont
farmer declares, adding that "young
stock, especially calves, would make
better growth if more milk were
available as a calf feed"
Another breeder tells of his herd
bull, which at the age of five months
weighed only $50 pounds, with the ex-
planation that its mother failed to
give the milk the calf needed. 81 gave
him a nurse cow" the farmer remark
ed, "and all the feed he would take.
At Is months he weighted HOO
pounds, and at 21 months 1000
pounds" A Vermont farmer tells of
colt which at four months old was
very poor and understood. 81 gave it
skim milk for six MONTHS" he de-
clared, "and it grew into a better built
and heavier horse than either parent"
Such reports show the Importance
which Thoughtful stockmen have long
attached to milk as a feed. Although
feeding milk to colts and horses is a
rare practice in the United States, it
is common in some European coun-
tries and is entirely practicable. A
milk-fed horse is likely to sweat pro-
fusely in hot weather, but the animal
nevertheless becomes sleek and plump
and remains so. Some degree of care
must be exercised, however, to avoid
feeding too large amounts Of skim
milk to young calves and pigs, since
in such cases it may prove fatal.
AS a guide to persons deciding to
utilize surplus milk as a livestock
feed, the department makes the fol-
lowing recommendations which may
be supplemented with literature issu-
ed by the department.
Milk from a dairy herd which is
not definitely known to be free from
tuberculosis should be scalded before
being fed. An ordinary feed cooker
. is a practical means for scalding
milk. This process is approximately
equivalent to pasteurization, which
most large cities require as a safe
guard to public health. Metal pals
that can be kept clean by washing
and scalding are preferable to wood
en- containers or others that are diff
ficult to clean.
In calf feeding it usually pays well
to feed one pound of whole milk fol
each 10 pounds that the calf weight
for a period of two weeks, and at the
! end OF that time to change gradually
to an equal amount of skim milk. The
skim milk should be gradually increas.
ed as the calf grows, until about 1E
pounds per day is fed at the end OF
three months. Feed the milk warm
and regulate the quantity according tC
size and vigor of the calf.
Tor pigs three weeks old or more
3 parts of skim milk mixed with /
part Of shorts is useful in keeping
them growing. Skim milk may be fec
with corn and other hog feeds in var.
ious practical combinations.
In poultry feeding both skim milk
and buttermilk are excellent feeds
and can now also be purchased as g
nonperishable commercial feed, which
IS sold in large barrels as semisoliC
buttermilk. Skim milk and butter
milk may be fed alone or mixed will
other feeds, but feeders should OBJ
serve their flocks carefully to avoic
; giving too much milk, or bowel troubl,
may result. This is caused principal
= ly by fowls eating spoiled clabbere,
u milk remaining from a previous feed
ing.
: For horses, milk may be fed il
2 quantities up to three or four gallon
F. a day, end even in clabbered condition
: 1t is not harmful. Some horsemel
T. pereter milk slightly sour, on tn
. ground that it is less likely to resul
/. IN gas formation. AS a horse feec
: milk is palatable, easily digested, an
I. valuable for fattening. Horses tina
(. nave never been fed milk quickl
: learn to like it if little grain i
. sprinkled in it.
!. While to livestock owners unaecus
. TONED to the use of milk as a stocI
. iced 1t may appear somewhat expen
F. sive, there are advantages which mil
: FEEDERS quickly recognize. In add
. ton to utilizing the surplus milk tina
s would otherwise be wasted. voun,
STOCK generally make a very rapi
growth. This means early matur
3 iey and early usefulness, compare