618 



Journal of Agriculturt . Victoria. [10 Oct., 1917. 



their place. The figures I give will not be exactly those found in 

 the reports compiled by these bodies, as it has been necessary to make 

 fresh calculations on other bases, in order to make the experiments of 

 these institutions comparable with one another. 



In the experiments referred to, the calves have been kept under 

 observation, not only during the rearinc; period, but also up to the 

 time they reach lA to 2A years of age, so that the influence, if any, 

 of the early feeding, could be gauged. 



I would like to draw your attention, in the first place, to the 

 experiments carried out by the Agricultural Department of the Leeds 

 University. These ex,periments had for their object the demonstration 

 of rearing calves on separated milk and cod liver oil. The results are 

 given below, and they represent the conclusions obtained from five 

 series of experiments carried out at the Garforth farm during the 

 years 1899-1903, with more than fifty calves. The whole milk was 

 valued at 8d. per gallon, and the separated milk at 2d., and cod liver 

 oil at 5s. per gallon. For comparison the returns on valuing whole 

 milk at 6d. and separated milk at Id. are also included. 



Summary of Leeds Univer.sity Experiments in Calf Rearing. 

 Number of calve.9 . . 



Age of calves at start, in weeks 



Age of calves at weaning, in weeks . . 



Average weight of calves at start (lbs.) 



Average weight of calves at weaning (lbs.) 



Average increase for experimental feeding • . . 



Average cost of experimental feeding 



Average cost per lb. of increase 



Average live weight (lbs.) when sold fat at 2.V years 



Value per head, 60s. 8d. per cwt. dead weight 



Balance, after deducting cost of experimental food 



Balance in favour of separated milk and fat sub- 

 stitute 



Balance if whole milk is valued at 6d. and separated 

 milk at Id. 



It will be seen that there remains as balance a very appreciable 

 sum in favour of separated milk and cod liver oil over whole milk, 

 viz. : — 



£3 2s. 9d. witii whole milk valued at 8d. and separated milk at 2d. per gallon, 

 and £2 12s. Id. ,, „ ., 6d. „ „ Id. 



In addition to the foods mentioned, all calves received a gradually 

 increasing quantity of a mixture of equal parts of bran and linseed 

 cake during rearing, until at weaning this had increased to 1^ lbs. 

 per head daily. 



The next experiments I refer to are those carried out by the 

 Department of Agriculture for Ireland during the years 1901-1903, 

 consisting of three separate series, with a total of fifty-four calves 

 divided into three lots. 



