River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-06-25
PROPER FEEDS FOR
RAISING DAIRY COW

The calf should receive the first
milk, or colostrum, as 1t Is called,
during its first three or four days Of
life. This is laxative in its nature
and is of great help In keeping the
calf in good healthy condition. For
this reason it is probably best TO leave
the calf with the COW for these first
few days. There has been much dis
cussion on whether or not it Is best
to leave the calf with its dam, but
1t is most generally agreed that the
calf will do better if allowed to re-
main for the first day or two at least.
After the calf is taken away from
the cow it should receive warm fresh
whole milk from two to four times
daily. This should be continued until
the calf is about three weeks of age,
when you may begin to substitute
sweet skim milk with a grain ration
for part OF the whole. Gradually, as
the calf ages, increase the ration of
skim milk until the calf is receiving
a full feed OF 1t. After six weeks of
age, sixteen pounds daily will be about
the right amount, if it doesn't cause
securing
During the time the calf is on milk
encourage 1t to eat grain. A grain
mixture quite widely advised is corn,
bran and oats in equal parts, with a
small amount of oilmeal, or the whole
oats and corn chop may be fed. The
corn chop should be replaced by
shelled corn In month or month and
half. Cornmeal with bran also
makes a good feed in combination
with skim milk. In fact the feeder
has an almost unlimited number of
rations at hand, depending on the sort
of feed he has.
At an early age the calf will begin
to nibble at hay and such forage.
Alfalfa and good bright clover are
excellent feeds, though trifle rich In
proteins. Too liberal use of alfalfa
will cause scours. Glover is better
from this standpoint and is excellent
when mixed with alfalfa. Clean bright
mixed hay is as good from the stand
Good corn silage, absolutely free from
all mold and spoilage, will prove ex-
cellent in small quantities. 1t provides
succulence In excellent form, and Ii
the calf Is started out slowly at first
will prove a valuable feed.
When it comes to raising the dairy |
heifer, her purpose in life must be
considered. An excessive amount of
fat will not be conducive to useful
ness when the heifer becomes q COW.
Therefore feeds rich in protein or
muscle builders must be fed rather
than fattening feeds. Much depends |
on the time of the year, of course. |
Liberal feeding of alfalfa or clover |
supplemented by a small amount of |
grain will provide for good growth.
If silage is available, about fifteen |
pour IS Of that, seven of alfalfa, and |
about three pounds of grain, will pro-
vide an excellent ration for the dairy !
heifer.
In addition to proper feed, point I
to watch in the building of herd Is
ter, the feed consumed will not be
properly assimilated Calves like wa
ter frequently and in small quantities. ,
Another thing often lacking is salt,
which is absolutely required for the |
best results. 1t should be given to
calves and heifers regularly, or else
be kept before them all the time.
1t is not SO difficult to provide the
proper feeds for best development Of |
the dairy COW. All that is really |
necessary is a realization of the neces-
sity for good care and then the appll
cation of sound principles of feeding.
Remember that heifer Of known an
cestry, raised by proper methods, will
prove more valuable to you than an
other animal you could buy for any
reasonable amount.