148 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



milk available at this time. The young calf can be 

 given as much of its mother's milk as it requires, and 

 that which remains may be given to other calves which 

 need a little extra to bring them along rapidly. Dr 

 Gillespie wrote a few years ago : " Hand-feeding requires 

 skill, and above all careful management and unremit- 

 ting personal superintendence. The person in charge 

 must be thoroughly reliable, and very painstaking, and 

 the food must be given with scrupulous care and 

 regularity." These are weighty words, and it will be 

 instructive to look at some of the points in detail which 

 make for successful calf-feeding, 



The Calf Box. The preparation of the calf box 

 previous to the introduction of the calf is all-important, 

 because, unless this point is attended to, there is great 

 danger of white scour, or similar diseases, attacking 

 the calves and spoiling the results. The box should 

 therefore be cleaned out, the floor disinfected, and the 

 walls lime-washed. The ventilation should be thorough, 

 in order to secure a gentle current of fresh air through 

 the box. Light in the boxes is also good, provided 

 it is not too strong. With these conditions fulfilled 

 namely, light, fresh air, and cleanliness the calf may 

 be safely introduced on to a comfortable bed of clean 

 straw. Quietness is essential for rapid fattening, and 

 unless each calf has a separate box, they should be tied 

 up by the neck sufficiently short to prevent them 

 reaching their neighbours. In the north of England 

 they are often fastened between two stakes, to prevent 

 the calves licking their coats ; while in Holland they are 

 kept in small, dark boxes, with a round hole cut in the 

 door, and a cover over it. When this cover is removed, 

 the calf makes for the light, and receives its ration of 

 milk for the time being. 



