56 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



also produce more milk during the summer season with which to give the calf 

 the best start in its development. In the case of cows that are milked and calves 

 that are hand raised on more or less skim milk, there is undoubtedly more profit 

 in having cows freshen in the fall of the year. In any event cows should be bred 

 in such a manner that the calves of the herd will be as nearly uniform in age 

 as possible. The breeding herd should be culled from time to time of cows that 

 do not possess the size and ability to produce calves of the most desirable type 

 and character for beef production. 



Feeding the Breeding Herd. Beef cows that have access to good pasture 

 will require little attention during the pasture season. Where pastures become 

 short to affect the milk flow of the cow or cause her to seriously reduce in 

 flesh, it is best to supplement the pasture with silage, clover or alfalfa hay, 

 soiling crops or concentrated feeds. An abundance of pure, fresh water, shade 

 and salt should be provided. 



In winter the cows should be fed in a manner to keep them in a thrifty, 

 normal condition of flesh. No more grain should be fed than is necessary. 

 A ration of corn silage and good clover or alfalfa hay under ordinary conditions 

 will be highly satisfactory. A ration composed of 18 to 20 Ibs. corn silage, 4 

 Ibs. clover hay and cheaper roughage like straw, corn stover, should provide ample 

 feed for keeping cows in good condition and gaining 1 to 1^4 Ibs. per day. 

 Where silage is not available, shocked corn and clover hay together with 

 straw may be fed to advantage. Where cheaper and lower roughages are 

 utilized enough grain should be supplied to keep cows in a thrifty condition. 



Methods of Rearing Beef Calves. Beef calves may be reared in one of 

 three following ways : 



On farms where cattle are raised primarily for beef production, it is 

 customary to allow calves to run with their dams until six or eight months of 

 age. 



Calves should be taught to eat grain before being weaned to prevent shrinkage 

 at weaning time. A good grain mixture for beef calves consists of corn meal 

 50 parts, ground oats 30 parts, wheat bran 20 parts. In addition to this grain 

 mixture clover or alfalfa hay should be fed in such quantities as calves will 

 clean up without waste. Cotton seed meal is not a good feed for young calves. 

 Daily gains of \ l / 2 to 2 Ibs. should be expected. 



In some instances half the cows of the herd are hand milked and the other 

 half are required to nurse two calves. Under this system it is best to select the 

 easy and heavy milkers for hand milking and let the calves nurse those that 

 are indifferent. Additional calves may be bought if necessary to have all cows 

 nurse- two calves. Where two calves nurse one cow it is well to have a shady pad- 

 dock or stable in which calves spend the day and are turned with cows to nurse 

 twice daily. Grain and other feeds should be supplied in such quantities as to 

 keep them growing and in a good condition of flesh at all times. In some in- 

 stances beef calves are raised by hand and the cows hand milked throughout their 

 lactation periods. In such instances the calf is left with the dam for only two to 

 four days and raised practically in the same manner with all of the precautions 

 heretofore discussed with reference to raising dairy calves. 



