330 



FARMERS' REGISTER— FEEDING CALVES FOR VEAL. 



eo contrived, as to height, that, when the door of 

 the suckhng-house is open, it tails down on the 

 tail oi" the cart, and the animal walks into it, and 

 is secured. The floor of the Dutch call-pens is ol' 

 lattice work, so that it always lies dry.* 



The district of Strathaven, in Lanarkshire, is 

 celebrated throughout Sco'land lor the excellence 

 of its veal, and there the only plan pursued is sini- 

 ]){y feeding the calves on milk alone, without the 

 addition of any extraneous food, or noslranis for 

 promoting rest, and without having recourse to 

 bleeding. They are not allowed to draw the dam, 

 but are suckled by hand, as is usual in many parts 

 of England, both because the quantity of milk 

 given to the calf can be thus better ascertained 

 and more regularly distributed, and the sucking by 

 the teat is considered disadvantageous to the cow. 

 The reason assigned for this is, that when the en- 

 tire milk is not given to the calfj the cow retains a 

 portion of the remainder tnat is takenolf by hand; 

 and that when young, the calf does not drain olt' 

 the milk completely; and it is well known that the 

 milky seerskin is diminished whene^'er the udder 

 IS not completely emptied.f Some of the Stratha- 

 ven feeders give the milk at first sparingly, trom an 

 idea that it sharpens the appetife of the calves; 

 but others, more naturally and witli as good effect, 

 allow a full supply from first to last. For a week 

 or two after they are calved, they are not found to 

 consume more than about half of a good cow's 

 milk, but the quantity is gradually increased to as 

 much as they can drink. " A well grown calf, at 

 four weeks old, will consume the entire milk of one 

 cow; if thriving well, it will, in two or three weeks 

 more, take the greatest part of the milk of two 

 cows; and in order to bring them to the greatest 

 degree of fatness, it is common lo give those which 

 are farthest advanced the last drawn, or richest 

 part of the milk of three cows lor two or three 

 weeks after they are four or five weeks old. This 

 last practice, however, is scarcely necessary, for it 

 will generally be found that the animals will be fit 

 for the butcher, in about six or seven weeks, with- 

 out any other attention than to give them abund- 

 ance of the whole milk; to keep plentj^ of litter un- 

 der them in a place that is Avell aired and of moder- 

 ate warmth; and to exclude the light. Some have 

 mixed eggs, and others have put meal into the 

 milk; but the best Iceders do not approve of such 

 admixtures, which, they say, darken the flesh, 

 web, and lights of the animal. J 



The very intelligent writer from whom we have 

 extracted this account, does not si ate the average 

 measured quantity of milk consmned by the calves 

 during the process of fatting; but he says, that the 

 Strathaven larmers calculate on realizing ten shil- 

 lings per week from each calf, valuing the milk at 

 from l^d. to 2d. per quart; and that, many have 

 used their milk in feeding veal when they could 



* Malcolm's " Compendium of Modern Husbandry," 

 Vol. 1. p. 354. The practice is admirably adapted for 

 fatting calves for the butcher; for which quietude is 

 absolutely requisite: but where the object in rearing 

 them is to keep them, as stock, it probably will be 

 found more conducive to their health to turn them out 

 into a sheltered paddock or yard, only housing them at 

 night. 



t See Book II. Chap. IV. Sect. 3. 



t Alton's Dairy Husbandry, Chapter III. Sect. 1. p. 

 60. * ^ 



have sold it at these prices. If so, it is clear that 

 either the system, or the stock, must be aviperior 

 to any ttiing of the kind in England; for the calcu- 

 lation ol" the profit of suckling in Essex, where it 

 is usually practised lor the London market, as 

 given in the Survey of that county, is only four 

 shillings and sixpence per week, aiid although that 

 may be under the marie, yet ten shillings would 

 probably be at least as mach above it. 



Of steers mid draught oxen, 



A good ox for the plough should be neither too 

 tat nor too lean; as, in the former case, he will be 

 too lazy; and in the latter, he will be too weak and 

 unfit for labor. His body ought to be full, joints 

 short, legs strong, eyes iidl, his coat smooth and 

 fine, and every part well put together, so that his 

 strength may be easily seen , Another reqviisite is, 

 that lie answer to the goad, and be obedient to the 

 voice; but he can only be governed by gradual ass 

 and gentle treatment. Those calves which are 

 desigaied for the yoke, should not bo brokcn-in 

 earlier than tv/o and a half, or three years, lest 

 they be overstrained;* nor should that operation 

 be deferred longer, as they will become li"ovvard, 

 and stubborn. Their work should then be so pro- 

 portioned as not to aflect their growth, which con- 

 tinues till about their seventh year; for if this be 

 nolattended to, their value will be lessened in a 

 greater degree than will be compensated by their 

 labor. 



The strength of this animal, when properly 

 trained and managed, is very great, and he has 

 patience to endure fatigue; but, being naturally 

 slow, he must not be exerted beyond his usual 

 pace. The only method by which success can be 

 attained is, by patience, mildness, and even by 

 caresses; for comjiulsion and ill-treatment will irri- 

 tate and disgust him. Hence, great assistance 

 will be derived fi-om gently stroldng the animal 

 along the back, by patting him, and encouraging 

 him with the voice, and occasionally feeding him 

 whh such aliments as are most grateful lo his pa- 

 late. When he has thus become familiar, his 

 horns should be frequently tied, and, after a few 

 days, a yoke may be put upon his neck, when he 

 should be fastened to a plough with a tame old ox, 

 of equal size; next, the oxen should be employed 

 in some light v/ork, which they maybe suftleredto 

 perform easily and slowly; thus they will draw 

 equally, and the young steer will be gradually in- 

 ured to work. After working in this manner, he 

 should be yolced Avilli an ox of greater spirit and 

 agility, in order that the steer may learn to quick- 

 en his jnxce; and, by thus fretpiently changing his 

 companions, as occasion may allow, he will, in the 

 course of the first month or six weeks of his labor, 

 be capable of drawing with the briskest of the 

 stock. 



After a steer is thus properly trained, it wifl be 

 advisable, for the future, to match such as are in- 

 tended to draw in the same team, or yoke: atten- 

 tion being {)aid to their size, strength, and spirit or 

 temper; otherwise, by being unequally matched, 

 they will not only spoil their work, and be greatly 

 disqualified for draught, but the slower or weaker 

 animal of the two being urged beyond its natural 

 powers, will inevitably receive material injury. 



* In Devonshire, however, they are frequently put 

 to gentle work at two years of age. 



