220 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



It requires constant care and watchfulness to raise a skim- 

 milk calf or one fed other dairy by-products; all sudden changes 

 and irregularities in feeding must be avoided, as well as a too 

 liberal allowance of milk (Figs. 41 and 42). Overfeeding or in- 

 judicious feeding is a frequent cause of calf scours, and when this 

 occurs the feed or milk must be reduced or withheld for a time, 

 and special treatment resorted to. 



Remedies for Calf Scours. 1. A teaspoonful of sterilized dried blood 

 (so-called blood flour), thoroughly mixed with the milk at each meal, will 

 generally remedy the trouble when it is promptly attended to. The blood 

 meal also serves as an excellent tonic for weak calves. 



2. In aggravated cases of calf scours the milk is withheld and an egg 

 in a tablespoonful of blackberry brandy is given three times a day till im- 

 provement is noted. 



3. The formaldehyde treatment is another remedy that will produce 

 good results in most cases after a few days." A teaspoonful of a 1 per cent 

 formaldehyde solution (prepared by adding one-half ounce of formaldehyde, 

 40 per cent, to a pint of water) is added per pint of milk, preferably fed 

 immediately after the skim milk is received from the separator. 



Rules for Feeding Young Calves. The following rules epit- 

 omize the main precautions to be observed in feeding young calves. 7 



Do not overfeed. Feed sweet, preferably fresh, warm milk 

 (85-90 F.). Feed each animal individually. Feed regularly 

 and make only gradual changes in feed. Keep pens and calf 

 quarters thoroughly clean, dry and free from draft. Pay strict at- 

 tention to condition of the bowels. 



Supplemental Feeds with Skim Milk. In order to compen- 

 sate for the butter fat removed in the skim milk, many different 

 methods have been recommended, and are followed with success by 

 different farmers. Peanut oil, cod-liver oil, corn oil, or oleo- 

 margarine heated to 110 F. and mixed thoroughly with the skim 

 milk, is used to a limited extent, these fats being added in the pro- 

 portion of one-half to one ounce per quart of milk. The most 

 common and efficient supplemental feed for skim-milk-fed young 

 calves is, doubtless, flaxseed. This may be added either direct, a 

 tablespoonful of ground flaxseed per quart of milk, or the meal is 

 boiled into a jelly with six parts of water, which is mixed with the 

 skim milk in small amounts, the equivalent of two tablespoonfuls 

 of the dry meal to a feed. 



6 S. C. Bulletin 122; Farmers' Bulletin 273. White Scours or so-called 

 calf cholera is a contagious disease that may attack calves when only a day 

 or two old. Repeated applications of tincture of iodine or of a 2 per cent 

 solution of corrosive sublimate on the navel of the newborn calf and thor- 

 ough disinfection of the calf pens and barn are remedial measures. 



7 Missouri Circular 47. See also Wis. Cir. 59. 



