242 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



COST OF RAISING THE DAIRY CALF TO ONE 



YEAR OLD. 



By Edward C. Whitman, Cumberland Center. 



(Prize Essay) 



The cost of raising the dairy calf to one year old has become 

 a much debated question among the successful dairymen of 

 today. During this early period of the calf's life it often 

 appears that there is very little remuneration for the labor and 

 feeds expended on a calf which is of course at this time an 

 unknown quantity. Even if the calf is the offspring of a pure 

 bred sire and dam — and today the slogan of the successful 

 breeder is to breed only pure bred animals: — the calf's ability 

 is somewhat obscure. 



As the subject to be discussed here is only the cost of raising 

 the dairy calf to one year old, the question of breeding pure 

 bred animals will not be touched upon. We will all agree that 

 there will be some variation in this cost under different condi- 

 tions ; but, as the following results were obtained from an 

 average calf, and under the average farm conditions, we hope 

 that this essay will convey some helpful ideas to you. 



The calf in question was born October i, 191 1, and was fed 

 and cared for in the following manner : 



The calf was allowed to suckle its dam for two days, and then 

 waS( removed. It was offered milk at the next regular feeding, 

 but, refusing to drink, it was not forced. At the next feeding 

 period, however, the calf was hungry enough to be readily 

 taught to drink. In nature the calf gets its milk often, but in 

 small quantities, and always at blood temperature (95 to 100 

 degrees). In this respect nature was imitated, as far as possi- 

 ble. The milk was weighed for each feeding. At first the calf 

 was fed ten pounds per day, divided into three meals, — four 

 pounds in the morning, two pounds at noon, and four pounds 



