Substitutes for Skimmed Milk in Raising Calves 5 



The properties of linseed-meal are too well known to need discussion. 

 Dried blood is a product of the large abattoirs. The special brand used 

 by Hayward is known as the Helmet Brand, and is sold by Armour & 

 Company of Chicago. It is recommended as a cure for scours and per- 

 haps also as a tonic. The cost of a pound of the entire mixture was 

 estimated at 3.02 cents. 



A few of the calves were reared on another meal of the following com- 

 position : 



Corn-meal 13 pounds 



Nutriimi 20 " 



Flaxseed i^ " 



Dried blood 2 " 



Flour 30 " 



Cocoanut-meal 6 " 



Oat-chop (sifted) 6 " 



This mixture was found to be a little more palatable perhaps, but did 

 not seem to give quite so good results as the first mixture. The cost 

 was approximately the same as the first mixture. 



The calves in the experiment were not selected but were taken just as 

 they were born, fed on whole milk for seven to ten days, and then grad- 

 ually changed to the calf meal ration. They were fed twice a day from 

 a calf feeder. All the calves that were fed the meal seemed to grow as 

 well as the two calves which were raised on skimmed milk, hay, and grain 

 and compared with the calf -meal fed calves as a check. 



In the opinion of Hayward, as good and as thrifty calves can be raised 

 on calf meal as on skimmed milk. He succeeded in rearing unselected 

 calves without the aid of milk after the first 14 to 18 days. The calves 

 weighed 150 to 250 pounds each when four to five months old, and were 

 produced at a food cost of $8 to $9 each. 



Massachusetts experiments. — J. B. Lindsey* made an experiment in 

 1903 with Hayward's mixture and with Blatchford's Calf Meal. Two 

 thrifty grade Jersey calves were fed on Hayward's mixture and weighed 

 respectively 310 and 260 pounds when six months and five and one-half 

 months old. Calf No. i gained 1.4 pounds daily when on Hayward's 

 mixture, and Calf No. 2, i.i pounds daily. The food cost of Calf No. i 

 up to six months of age was $20.20, while calf No. 2 cost, up to five and 

 one-half months of age, $15.11. 



The calves were fed whole milk for the first 9 to 14 days, then skimmed 

 milk and the meal mixture gradually substituted, the whole milk being 



* Sixteenth Annual Report, Massachusetts Hatch Station, Jan., 1904, 



