RAISING DAIRY CATTLE 435 



7 to 8 months old, but if only a limited amount is available, quite satis- 

 factory results will be secured if they are weaned when only 2 to 3 months 

 old and thereafter fed only a suitable concentrate mixture furnishing 

 ample protein, along with legume hay and perhaps silage. This is 

 shown in trials by Fraser and Brand at the Illinois Station 88 and Swett 

 at the Missouri Station. 34 Starting when the calves were 2 weeks old or 

 less, they were very gradually changed from whole milk to skim milk. 

 Skim milk feeding was continued until the calves were 45 to 65 days old, 

 when the amount was gradually reduced, and after about 10 days no 

 more milk was fed. The calves were fed liberal allowances of concen- 

 trates and also legume hay. In the Missouri trials a concentrate mixture 

 of 4 parts corn, 1 part wheat bran, and 1 part linseed meal was very 

 satisfactory with alfalfa hay* When timothy hay replaced the alfalfa, 

 poor results followed. Calves raised by this system in the Illinois trials 

 required only 137 to 167 Ibs. of whole milk (after the milk was fit for 

 human use) and 378 to 491 Ibs. of skim milk. They were rather thin for 

 a time, but after being kept on pasture with a limited allowance of grain 

 until 6 months old, all were in thrifty condition, and later several de- 

 veloped into high producing cows. 



697. Raising calves on a minimum of whole milk. When there is no 

 skim milk, buttermilk, or whey available for feeding the calves, a method 

 similar to that just outlined may be followed. The calf is given a good 

 start on whole milk and then at the age of about 45 days, if it is thrifty 

 and vigorous, the allowance of milk may be gradually reduced, and no 

 more milk fed after the calf is 55 to 60 days old. This method has been 

 used with satisfactory results in trials by Hulce and Nevens at the 

 Illinois Station, 35 and by Eckles at the Minnesota Station. 86 In the Illi- 

 nois trials dairy calves of the larger breeds were raised satisfactorily on 

 a total of only 400 Ibs. of whole milk, when they had liberal amounts of 

 concentrates and legume hay. Weak individuals or those which do not 

 take readily to concentrates need milk for a longer time. It is unneces- 

 sary to feed the concentrate mixture as a slop, or to cook it. However, 

 when a minimum amount of milk is fed, careful and intelligent feeding 

 and management are required for success. 



In trials at the Connecticut (Storrs) Station 37 by White and Kuelling 

 calves were changed when 3 weeks old or more to milk diluted with 3 

 times the amount of water. The calves were fed daily 3.5 Ibs. of milk 

 in this form till they were 6 months old, consuming in this time a total 

 of 700 to 800 Ibs. of milk. The small amount of milk was thus diluted 

 so that it would be more completely consumed from the pails and also so 

 that it would better satisfy the calf by filling its stomach. Legume hay 

 and a liberal amount of concentrates were fed in addition. Calves thus 

 fed made better gains than others fed a commercial calf meal. 



"111. Bui. 164. "Information to the authors. 



34 Mo. Cir. 88. '"Conn. (Storrs) Bui. 102. 



"111. Cir. 202. 



