CATTLE. 379 



matter of economy in providing the most suitable and cheap 

 substitutes. 



In Ayrshire, calves that are to be raised as dairy cows arf 

 usually fed on whole milk for the first four, five, or six ■weeks, 

 when they are allowed from three to five quarts at each meal, 

 twice a day. Some never give any other food, while so young, 

 except milk, and lessen the quantity as they begin to eat grass 

 or other food, which they do at five or six weeks old; and at the 

 age of seven or eight the milk is wholly withdrawn. If in 

 winter, the milk has to be continued longer. A calf will not 

 learn so soon to eat hay as grass, nor will it thrive upon it so 

 well when it does eat it. Ilay tea is also used then, and linseed 

 boiled to a jelly and mixed in the milk. Treacle, and other 

 substitutes, are sometimes used, but milk, when it can be 

 spared, is regarded as the best and most natural food. 



A method by which the expense of raising calves could be 

 reduced in the proportion of two-thirds, as compared with feed- 

 ing it all milk, was suggested by the Duke of Northumberland, 

 in the following manner: Half an ounce of common treacle, or 

 molasses, is well mixed with a pint of skimmed milk, when an 

 ounce of finely-powdered linseed oil cake is gradually added, 

 stirring it until thoroughly mixed, when it is to be added to 

 the remainder of a gallon of milk ; the whole to be brought to 

 the temperature of new milk, and fed to the animal. After a 

 short time the proportion of pulverized oil cake may be con- 

 siderably increased. 



Hay tea, oil cake, and oat meal will form the basis of substi- 

 tutes for pure milk ; but the first few days the milk fresh from 

 the cow must be given, and the gruel added gradually after- 

 wards, till water is substituted for milk. Mixing oil cake with 

 gruel is the secret of the success of this method, and the oil 

 cake must be the best to be had. It may be prepared by taking 



