RAISING DAIRY CATTLE 437 



Lindsey reared calves at the Massachusetts Station 44 on two pro- 

 prietary calf meals, Hay ward 's home-mixed calf meal, and various other 

 home-mixed meals, in comparison with calves fed an abundance of skim 

 milk, ordinary grains, and hay. The calves raised on the milk substitutes 

 were given 3 to 5 quarts of skim milk for the first 3 to 4 months, as he 

 found that putting the calves too early on an exclusive diet of calf meal 

 was likely to produce serious digestive disturbances. This method was 

 satisfactory, tho the calves fed the calf meals made somewhat smaller 

 gains than those given an abundance of skim milk. Lindsey secured 

 good results with a home-mixed meal consisting of oatmeal, 22 Ibs. ; flax- 

 seed meal, 10 Ibs. ; flour middlings, 5 Ibs. ; fine corn meal, 11 Ibs. ; blood 

 flour, 1.5 Ibs. ; salt, 0.5 Ib. A meal consisting of oatmeal, 35 Ibs. ; barley 

 malt, 12.5 Ibs. ; blood flour, 1.5 Ibs. ; potassium bicarbonate, 0.5 Ib. ; and 

 salt, 0.5 Ib. was also satisfactory. 



It is quite probable that the difficulty in raising calves on milk sub- 

 stitutes is due to the fact that the substitutes furnish proteins of poorer 

 quality for growth than the proteins of milk, or else they are deficient 

 in vitamines. (118, 104) 



Dried or powdered skim milk and semi-solid buttermilk are excellent 

 skim milk substitutes when they can be secured at prices which make 

 their use economical. One pound of dried skim milk, mixed with 9 Ibs. 

 of water, will be about equal in feeding value to 10 Ibs. of skim milk. 

 Semi-solid buttermilk is only about 40 per ct. as concentrated as dried 

 skim milk. 



699. Proprietary oalf meals. There are on the market several calf 

 meals, which are more or less complex mixtures of such feeds as linseed 

 meal or flaxseed meal, ground cereals, and wheat by-products, with or 

 without dried milk, casein, and mild drugs. (288, 292) These meals are 

 fairly satisfactory substitutes for skim milk, but apparently give no 

 better returns than home-mixed meals that are much less expensive. 45 

 Even the best calf meals, either home-mixed or proprietary, are most 

 satisfactory when used as only a partial substitute for milk until the 

 calves are at least 2 months old. 



III. GENERAL PROBLEMS IN RAISING HEIFERS 



700. Precautions in rearing calves. In addition to suitable feed in- 

 telligently supplied, attention to the following points is necessary for 

 success in rearing calves: The stable should be well lighted and ven- 

 tilated and reasonably warm in winter. Cold drafts must be avoided. 

 The stalls must be kept clean and should be well-bedded. The calves 

 should be protected from cold cement floors by wood overlays. In all 



"Mass. Bui. 164. 



"Dean, Ontario Agr. Col. Rpts., 1900, 1905; Savage and Tallby, N. Y. (Cornell) 

 Buls. 269, 304; Hunziker and Caldwell, Ind. Bui. 193; White and Kuelling, Conn. 

 (Storrs) Bui. 102. 



