Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-01
FEEDING MILK SUBSTITUTES
To ruE CALVES

FEEDING MILK SUBSTITUTES
To THE CALVES
After the calves are more than two
weeks old they may be given milk sub
stitutes The calves must become accus-
toned to them by gradually shifting
from the milk to the substitute.
Generally the commercial calf feeds
are composed of a mixture of clean
ground grains, hnseed oil meal and
wheat by-products. The oil meal con-
tains vegetable fat which takes the
place of the butterfat OF the milk and
makes the food laxative. For young
calves it is best to cook this, making it
into a thin grLel so that it will readily
mix with milk. Good results are OBJ
tanned by using pure linseed oil meal or
mixture of equal parts, by measure, Of
linseed oil meal, sifted oat chops and
good wheat shorts. Low grade flour can
be used in place Of the shorts, or high
grade peanut meal substituted for lin
seed meal.
This mixture will be somewhat laxa-
tive, probably too much SO for some
calves Should it prove too laxative, or
not palatab'e, the amount should be re-
duced until the caves become accus-
toned to it. After they once get well
started there will seldom be any trou-
, ble
professor Spencer. of the Missouri
| College of Agriculture, advises. in start
ing TO. feed the substitute % calves, to
give one pont at a feed. which can be
gradually increased and the SKINNED
milk reduced, until the calves are six to
eight weeks old when the milk may be
taken away and boIled milk substitutes
fed entirely
After calf is about two weeks Of age
it will start to eat By placing small
amount of grain in a box and keeping 4
before the calf, it viii be only a short
time before it begins to eat regularly. a
quarter of a pound or less each day Will
be sufficient for 10 days or two weeks
and this can be gradually Increased,
giving the calf all it will eat up clean
| The appetite for solid foods should be
developed slowly, and not by emitting
| the milk or cruel in order to force it TO
eat the dry foods.
Continue the Cruel CT milk feeding
until the calf is four or five months old
| to dairy cows, but cornmeal or whole
corn gives the best results. A good mix
ture is seven pounds of cracked corn,
Two pounds wheat bran and one pound
peanut or linseed meal This should be
| fed twice a day, and the manager cieaned
out before fresh supply is placed in
It
| After the calf is three OF four months
| old it can depend largely on the grain
and less on the milk feed. but the two
| should be fed together. When six
| months old it may be taken off the Ii.
| quid feed and fed solids entirely Each
| calf must have individual attention, fed
separately from pail or bucket and the
milk weighed or carefully measured The
feeding utensils should be scalded each
| time after feeding and kept clean. The
calf should have access to fresh water
| and salt should have a clean and COM
| Portable shelter and should not be ex.
posed to rain nor bad weather.
loan BEGIN TO THINK
( ABOUT SPRING CROPS
Whether it is conducted on an exten.
| zive scale to supply the market or wheth
or it is to produce food for the family
| the garden plot is likely to be the mos
profitable acreage on the farm. Garden
| ing really begins in the fall. When tn.
last vegetables have been removed an,
stored the prudent gardener sets abou
10 prepare the ground for the next year:
crop.
Any rubbish dead vines or plants, ans
bean poles or tomato stakes should b.
| cleared away, and the ground sown [,
rye or some other green crop to nreven
the loose earth from washing under tn,
winter rains. A clover crop also i'm
proves tie physical condition OF the sol
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