REARING OF CALVES 513 



calves. A pint of this to be given three times a day 

 in a quart of water slightly warmed. Calves fed in 

 this way thrive as well as if fed upon milk. 



In America calves are fed with gruel, made of one- 

 third barley and two-thirds oats, ground very fine. 

 To each quart of flour add twelve of water, and boil 

 it for half-an-hour. Let it stand until it has become 

 of the heat of milk from the cow. Each calf to be 

 given a quart of this morning and evening. When 

 calves are ten days old, a bundle of soft hay is tied up 

 in the middle of the cow-house, which they will come 

 to eat by degrees. The quantity of gruel must be 

 gradually increased until they are two months old, by 

 which time they are generally enabled to provide for 

 themselves. Three bushels of the above compound 

 will raise six calves. 



One of the most important objects to be attended 

 to in rearing calves, as well as in feeding all animals, 

 is to preserve the utmost regularity in the hours of 

 feeding, and not to give too much at a meal. It has 

 been found better to feed thrice a day instead of twice. 



When calves are not intended for breeding from, 

 it is the practice to castrate the males and spay the 

 females. These operations should be performed when 

 the animal is fifteen or twenty days old. After the 

 operation great care is necessary to prevent the 

 wounded parts from being exposed to the action of the 

 air. They must be kept quiet and warm for the first 

 three or four days afterwards, and not allowed much 

 drink. 



The time when cows should be put to the bull is 

 not until they are from two to three years old, although 

 it is not unusual for farmers to commence breeding 

 from them at two years. But this latter has a 

 tendency to weaken the system, as cows can hardly be 



2 K 



