HOW TO RAISE A CALF ON SKIM MILK 59 



When the cow has licked her newly born calf 

 it should rise to its feet and take its first meal, or 

 should be assisted if it is too weak and unable to 

 find the udder, after which it should be taken away 

 from her, providing her udder is in good condition. 

 It is easier to teach the calf to drink from a bucket 

 when it has not learned too much about sucking. 

 Experience has shown that when the calf is taken 

 from the mother directly after the first meal or 

 within four or five days, it will make good 

 progress on hand feeding; but when it has been 

 left with the dam for three weeks or so, that, on 

 being hand-fed, it has a slight "set-back" for the 

 first eight or nine days after being removed from 

 the mother. This should be avoided. If the 

 udder of the cow is " caked " or hard, however, it 

 is best to leave the calf with her for two or three 

 days, as the rubbing and nosing of the calf softens 

 and reduces any inflammation of the udder. 



When hand feeding the calf it is absolutely 

 necessary to imitate nature to get the best results. 

 The mother's milk is always warm, at blood 

 temperature, so that the calf should always be 

 given the mother milk, colostroum, or beistings 

 as it is called, while it is fresh and warm. 



This is important, for it acts as a gentle purga- 

 tive and clears the meconium out of the intestines. 

 The anus of the calf should always be examined, as 

 frequently it is found closed. In nature, the calf 



