REARING OF CALVES. 561 



To rear calves with profit much care is necessary, and ample 

 directions to that end are to be found in the prize essay just 

 quoted, and in a memoir in the same volume of the 'Eng- 

 lish Journal of Agriculture,' by Major S. M'Clintock. We 

 quote the following passages from the prize essay on a safe 

 and economical plan for the early management of calves, or 

 how to rear good calves with comparatively little new milk. 

 " As regards the quantity of milk which is needful to keep a 

 moderately-bred short-horned calf in a thriving condition, we 

 have found the following allowance to come pretty near the 

 mark, although the appetite of calves varies, both in individ- 

 uals and at different times with the same animal : 1st week 

 with the dam, or four quarts per day at two meals. 2d to 

 4th week, five to six quarts per day at two meals. 4th 

 to 6th week, six to seven quarts per day at two meals. 

 And the quantity need not during the ensuing six weeks (after 

 which it is weaned) exceed a couple of gallons per day. This 

 implies that the calf is fed upon new milk only, and that no 

 other feeding liquids are employed. We manage to turn out 

 from twenty-five to thirty calves annually such as will pass 

 muster anywhere and never use at any time more than six 

 gallons of new milk daily. For this purpose, as well as to 

 obtain a regular supply of milk for other purposes, the calves 

 are allowed to come at different periods, extending from 

 October to May. Hence the calf-house (previously described) 

 has generally a succession of occupants throughout the season ; 

 and as one lot are ready to be removed, and placed loose in a 

 small hovel with yard attached, others fill their places. We 

 begin with new milk from the pail, which is continued for a 

 fortnight after leaving the cow. Then skim-milk boiled, and 

 allowed to cool to the natural warmth is substituted to the 

 extent of one-third of the allowance. In another week the 

 new milk is reduced to half, and at the same time, not before, 



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