342 Feeds and Feeding. 



the framework of the yonng. In the composition of milk — 

 Nature's food for the young — we have a guide to the formation 

 of rations for young, growing animals. Pasture grass is also rich 

 in protein, and should be the main reliance when available. Oil 

 meal and oats, mixed with corn, are the best concentrates for 

 growing beef animals, while some oil meal, together with oats, 

 shorts and bran, with ample roughage, are most desirable for 

 those of the dairy type. Counteract the tendency of grain feeds 

 to make rigid, hard flesh by the use of pasture grass in summer 

 and roots or silage in winter. Always keep the young things in a 

 sappy, growing condition. For roughage, aside from i)asture and 

 silage, use corn stalks, clover or alfalfa hay, these two latter feeds 

 being rich in protein, for building the muscular system. A liberal 

 amount of bulky feed should always be supplied young cattle 

 to stimulate the growth of a roomy digestive tract. This is 

 especially important with heifers designed for the dairy. If con- 

 fined indoors the calf should have before it at all times, or at 

 frequent intervals, a sod of loamy earth. A double handful of 

 earth is good if nothing better is at hand. Why the calf should 

 crave earthy matter cannot always be explained, but, knowing 

 the fact, let the creature be sui)plied with this substance, feeling 

 assured that Nature makes no mistake in matters like this, even 

 if for the present they are beyond our understanding. 



531. Fall calves. — Where cattle are reared under natural con- 

 ditions, the rule that the young be dropped in the spring will 

 continue, but this practice is not necessarily the most successful 

 in the older sections of the country. Fall-dropped calves come 

 at a time when the little attentions they need can easily be given, 

 and they occupy but little space in barn or shed. Subsisting on 

 the mother's milk, or on skim milk with a little grain and hay, 

 when spring comes the youngstere are large enough to make good 

 use of the pastures, and the result is progress from the start, 

 untLl fall, when they return to the barn or shed large enough and 

 strong enough in digestion to make good use of the dry provender 

 necessitated by winter conditions. 



