Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-06-25

PROPER FEEDS FOR
RAISING DAIRY cow

The calf should receive the first
milk. or colostrum. as II Is called
during its nrst three or four days Of
life. This Is laxative In It's nature
and is OF great help In keeping the
calf In good healthy condition. For
this reason 1t is probably best to leave
the calf with the COW for these nrst
few days There has been much dis
cussion on whether or not It is best
to leave the calf with It's dam, but
Il is most generally agreed that the
calf will do better II allowed 70 re-
main for the first day or two at least.
After the calf is taken away from
the COW II should receive warm fresh
whole milk from two 70 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 II receiving
full feed Of Il. After six weeks Of
age. sixteen pounds daily win be about
the right amount. II II doesn't cause
securing.
During the time the calf is on milk
encourage It to eat grain. A grain
mixture quite widely advised IL corn.
bran and ohts In equal parts. with
small amount OF oilmeal. or the whole
pats and corn chop may be fed. The
corn chop should be replaced By
shelled corn in a month or month and
half. Cornmeal with bran also
makes q 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 win begin
to nIbble at hay and such forage.
Alfalfa and good bright clover are
excellent feeds though a trife rich In
proteins. Too liberal use OF alfalfa
will cause scours. Clover IL better
from this standpoint and Is excellent
when mixed with alfalfa. Clean bright
mixed hay is az good from the stand
point OF forage as anything else.
Good corn sllage, absolutely free from
all mold and spollage, viii prove ex-
ceIlent In small quantities. II provides
succulence In excellent form, and II
the calf Is started out slowly at first |
will prove q valuable feed.
When Il comes TO raising the dairy
heifer, her purpose in life must be
considered. An excessive amount OF
fat will not be conducive 10 useful
ness when the heller becomes a 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 small amount OF
grain will provide for good growth,
II silage Is available, about hfteen
pour Is OF. that. seven Of alfalfa, and
about three pounds Of grain, VIII pro
vide an excellent ration for the dairy
heller.
In addition TO proper feed, a point
to watch In the building OF herd IL
3 proper water supply. without wa
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 II absolutely required Tor the
best results. II should be given to
,aives and heifers regularly, or else
be kept before them all the time.
II Ia not 80 difficult to provide the
proper feeds for best development Of
The dairy COW. All that Is really
necessary Is realization OF the neces-
lty for good care and then the appli-
alton Of sound principles Of feeding.
Remember that a heller Of known an.
'estry. raised by proper methods, Will
rove more valuable TO you than an
'ther animal you could buy for any
amount.
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