51 



CALF-REARING. 



AN EXPERIMENT 



CONDUCTED AT THE 



WOBURN EXPERIMENTAL FARM, 1912-4. 



The subject of rearing calves from birth is one of great 

 importance, and it was therefore thought well, by the 

 Chemical and Woburn Committee of the R.A.S.E., to institute 

 some experiments upon it at their own farm. The recent 

 acquisition of a new holding consisting of about fifty acres of 

 grass land and known as " Charity Farm," provided a good 

 place for such work, especially as buildings with a number of 

 pens suitable for calves had been erected there, and had been 

 made use of in connection with the Tuberculosis Experiments 

 recently concluded. 



It was decided, in the first instance, to begin with spring- 

 born calves, and to purchase these, as is generally done, in the 

 open market. This was accordingly carried out, twenty calves 

 being purchased, when they were two to three days old, in 

 Leighton (Beds.) market. They were all biill calves of the 

 Shorthorn breed, and cost 21. 6s. apiece. 



In deciding upon the foods which were to be given, regard 

 was had largely to the fact that the main problem was how 

 skimmed or separated milk could be best utilised. It is 

 universally recognised that nothing does as well for calves as 

 whole milk, but, on the other hand, this is far too expensive. 

 Largely because of this, a number of special foods have been 

 l)rouglit on the market to take the place of milk, and are 

 variously known under such names as " Milk Substitute," 

 " Calf Meal," &c. It was impossible to give a trial to all of 

 these, and accordingly one was selected which was fairly 

 representative of the class of " Calf Meals," and which enjoys 

 a large sale and good reputation. The other foods chosen 

 were, besides whole milk, comliinations of separated milk with 

 such materials as cod-liver oil, linseed and oatmeal, and 

 crushed oats. The price at which whole milk could then be 

 obtained was Id. a gallon, and that of separated milk 2d. per 

 gallon. It was decided to divide the twenty calves into five 

 lots of four each, and to feed the several lots as follows : — 



