340 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



six hundred pounds at six months of age. I don't think it best to do as 

 some people do, to give the best feed to the horses and hogs, and give 

 what is left to the cattle, but give the calf a good chance from start to 

 finish. 



Most people know better than they are willing to do, saying, "that 

 will do,"' when they are far short of the care that is needed to obtain the 

 best results. 



As the little fellow grows, which he surely will, and which is a real 

 pleasure to the man who is in love with his calling and loves to take 

 care of his stock, give him what he may want to develop bone and tissue, 

 which feeds may mostly be found on the farm. 



A good allowance of oats is splendid for a calf, and if ground, all the 

 better, but the little fellow will gladly do his own grinding if placed 

 within his reach. 



Good bright clover hay is also splendid for a calf, especially for win- 

 ter feed. In the summer season plenty of good grass is all right, but he 

 should have the grain as well, to get the best results. 



He should never be allowed to go back for a day, for all he loses 

 will have to be put on again. Always let the watchward be, "keep him 

 going as fast as possible." 



As he is nearing six months old it is well to begin taking some of the 

 milk that he may learn to depend upon his own efforts more, taking away 

 the milk gradually that he may not go back any. Someone perhaps will 

 say this may be all right for the record calf but ''how about the calf w-here 

 the owners are patrons of the creamery." Well, that is sometimes a little 

 hard on the calf, and I have known some cases where the calves were 

 almost ruined, and in my judgment a losing game, but someone must 

 milk, an^ the calf must be cared for in some manner. 



Some years ago, when I was a patron of a creamery, I tried to keep 

 the calf going from the start, and I don't know of anything that carries 

 a calf along as well as a part of the milk at least; then give a good grain 

 ration, and push them right along, and not be in a hurry to wean them. 

 In my judgment they should not be taken from the cow entirely until six 

 months old at least. Always remembering that the calf is a machine in 

 some sense, and cannot make beef without plenty of material to work on, 

 and the better the material furnished, the better work it will do. It is 

 folly to feed a calf in such a manner that he will stand still, for then all 

 you feed him is almost if not entirely wasted; so let it be the determina- 

 tion, whether for breeding purposes or for beef, to feed with a liberal 

 hand, and in most cases you will be rewarded in proportion to the care 

 given. 



