MANAGEMENT OF CALF AFTER MILK PERIOD. 137 



pound, should make a good, liberal feed. A variety of fodders 

 .and roots or ensilage should be fed in connection with the 

 above mentioned grain ration in order to obtain the best 

 results. For roughage, clover or alfalfa is the best; how- 

 ever, timothy and millet hay, or corn and sorghum fodder 

 give good results. As the greatest gains can be made on a 

 given amount of feed with a young animal, liberal feeding 

 during the first winter is advisable. It is certainly poor 

 policy to allow the calf to lose its calf fat, because such can- 

 not be produced as economically at any other stage of life. 

 Thus while abundance of pasture is available during the 

 summer on nearly every farm, and while it furnishes the 

 cheapest and best feed, yet one should always strive to keep 

 the young animals in a sappy growing condition on winter 

 feed. 



In the corn belt good warm sheds furnish sufficient shel- 

 ter for young stock. Sheds constructed so that they open 

 to the south will give ample protection, providing good yards 

 surround them. Calves in such quarters will become more 

 liardy than those that are kept in warm, poorly ventilated 

 liarns. Whatever kind of sheds or quarters calves be kept 

 in, they should be warm enough so that no extra feed be 

 needed to keep the animals warm. Although exercise is not 

 the most conducive to gains, yet every young animal should 

 have access to yards and sunshine if the best results are 

 expected. Racks, feed bunks and water tanks should be 

 located in as well a protected place as can be obtained in 

 the yard. The water in the tanks should be kept from 

 freezing as much as possible by placing covers on the tanks 

 at night; and in the severest weather, if ice forms in tanks, 

 tank-heaters should be employed. Always keep sheds well 

 bedded and as dry as possible. 



In case the animals become infested with lice they 

 should be sprayed with a kerosene emulsion or some of the 

 commercial disinfectants which can be readily obtained. 

 Much depends on the care of the calf the first winter. In 

 fact every breeder and feeder should bear in mind that the 

 younger the animal, the cheaper the gain can be made. Thus 

 instead of just keeping the calf in growing condition in win- 

 ter, it should rather be pushed ahead as rapidly as possible. 

 The succeeding summer the calf should be put on good pas- 

 ture. If the pasture is short, a supplement of green feed 

 such as sorghum, peas, soy beans, etc.. can be fed very 

 profitably. Always keep animals growing and gaining. 



