AND CATTLE DOCTOR. 119 



allowed to suck ; or after awhile they may be brought 

 to take it from the pail. This is done by placing the 

 hand in the milk, while the fingers are raised above 

 the surface of the milk, for the calf to lay hold of with 

 its mouth, which it does very readily, and sucks up the 

 milk with great ease. 



When they are completely taken away, they should 

 be fed with a little bran, and some of the best soft 

 fragrant hay of the second crop ; they should be al- 

 lowed plenty of the skimmed milk, and now and then 

 a little water, in which barley has been boiled and 

 broken up, or a little buttermilk, occasionally. There 

 is at first some difficulty in bringing them to drink, but 

 a little perseverance will accustom them to it. 



Moderate warmth and dry lodging are of the utmost 

 consequence to young calves ; and if we would turn 

 them to any good account, they must not be stinted 

 either in these or in their food. Some persons feed 

 calves that have been weaned, only twice or thrice a 

 day : this is not enough : give less at a time, but more 

 frequently ; and take care that they have enough. In 

 summer, skimmed milk, thickened with oat or wheat- 

 meal ; and in winter, carrots, or Swedish turnips, 

 sliced, will make them excellent food, adding at all 

 times a little good sweet hay. 



As soon as they are fit to follow the mother, let them 

 out ; nothing does them more good than exercise, and 

 there is nothing, perhaps, more injurious than keeping 

 them too long in a stable. 



Calves that acquire a habit of sucking themselves, 

 may be prevented by separating them. This is the 

 only effectual method. They sometimes also contract 

 a habit of licking themselves, and swallowing the hair 

 which forms balls in their stomach ; and being indi- 

 gestible, are the cause of many serious diseases. Of 



