The Delta independent., 1925-02-27
AGRICULTURAL NOTES
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The Best Practices in Care of the
Dairy Calf.

Dairy Calf.
The dairy calf makes the future
herd, and is in many cases the great
est source of loss to dairy farmer
There are breeds which produce calv
es of such a type that the farmer
would sooner knock them in the head
than to take the trouble and risk OF
raising them, only to have an animal
worth little to show for it. And this
is very often the case, especially with
bull calves, because there is little
market for them. But IL really val
liable animal is produced, then every
precaution must be observed, to bring
it to maturity.
The first step to take in insuring
profit from calf production is the care
of the mother at calying time. A few
simple precautions are usually all that
is necessary. Heavy feeding should
cease a week previous to the date
set for calving All heavy feeds, such
as shock, barley and the like should
laxative feeds given. Bran, and oil
meal are perhaps best for this. If
the COW approaches the calving time
in a tight or constipated condition,
then 1t is well to loosen her up by
giving pounds of Glauber's salt.
Linseed oil is also good. A loose con-
dition at the time of calying may pre-
vent great many complications that
might otherwise arise.
time should be given the best of
attention at the time Of calving.
Close observation has been the means
OF preventing great loss and unnecess-
airy suffering at this time.
AS soon as the calf Is born, the
first step is to cut the naval cord
and to dissinfect 1t by painting it with
iodine. There is controversy as to
whether or not It is wisest to tie the
the tying will prevent dirt and in.
fection from entering the cord, and
this is probably a wise precaution.
But many contend that this cord
drains for several days. and that the
tieing OF 1t forces the waste material
" bf hbb'A btN lAANh illt hl hAtllA- 81
perhaps the best plan is simply to
paint It well with iodine and allow It
to dry up. II is a good plan, how
ever TO give the COW good clean
stall in which to calve and thus re-
move much OF the danger OF in
fection.
1t does not require long for a calf
to become able to walk, and as soon
rs It can 1t will begin its search for
food. II Il is allowed to stay with
the mother. and this Is in most cases
desirable. II will start sucking in an
hour after birth. II anything should
be wrong. such as the calf being so
weak that 1t could not stand, then II
should be aided in obtaining its first
meals. One meal inside of calf will
usually give It strength enough to eat
alone thereafter.
The calf should be left with the
mother for % to SO hours In this
length OF time the COW milk will have
started the calf well toward obtain
ing its growth, and yet the calf will
still be able to learn to drink from
a pail Should the COW and calf be
left together for much longer than
this It becomes very difficult TO break
It from sucking and to get It to drink
from a pail. In any case. whether the
calf reamins with the COW or Is TAX
en- away, It should be given the
colostrum milk This milk, often call.
ed beaslins. is very necessary to the
calf as regulator During the nine
months OF pregnancy, the calf body
has been collecting wastes which
must be passed Off. This Is the func-
tion OF the collostrum milk which is
very rich in protein and so is n strong
laxative, II not obtained from the
COW by the calf Il should be MIXED
out and fed from the pail. However.
the calf can get It much more easily
than can. a mixer and will also aid in
reducing the inflammation of the udder
more than mixer could.
When the time comes to teach the
calf to drink from a pail It should he
fed nothing for twenty-four hours. At
the end OF this time It Will be hungry
enough to want to eat, and usually
can be taught with little trouble
Tho calf should be given whole
milk for the first week. or week and
a half. Depending upon the size Of
the calf, It should be given eight to
twelve pounds. or plnts, Of milk daily.
This should be given in at least three
teedings and should be at n tempera.
ture Of 9S degrees Fahrenheit. Skim !
milk should be substituted gradually
for the whole milk, ns II is cheaper
to feed grain and sell the cream saved !
from the milk. This change should be |
made gradually, so that by tho begin J
ming or middle OF the third week the !
calf is getting half whole and half
skim milk Then by tho fourth or