CATTLE GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 775 



might probably be changed by repeated experiments, but I think 

 that we would usually find about this extra weight at one year 

 old on the fall calf. 



The best winter food for calves is a mixture of bran and 

 shelled corn fed in connection with clover or second-crop hay, 

 or corn fodder ; and for rough feed I think nothing better or 

 cheaper than the latter, but it is well for variety to feed a little 

 hay or sheaf oats. I have injured calves by feeding too much 

 corn, and think a pound a day fed with the same quantity of 

 bran enough to start with, but towards spring the amount of 

 bran might be doubled. I would not have the corn ground for 

 calves, if the grinding cost nothing, as their digestive powers 

 are good, and there is less danger of indigestion when fed on 

 whole corn than when it is ground. I place a high feeding value 

 on bran, particularly for young, growing stock, as it has largely 

 the same effect as grass in keeping the stomach and bowels reg- 

 ular, and enabling the animal to better assimilate other foods. 



J. G. Oxer's Plan. I think the best developed calves of 

 their age that I have ever seen raised on skimmed-milk were on 

 the farm of Mr. Oxer, of Preble County, Ohio. As he has 

 been very successful with cattle, I asked him to contribute from 

 his experience for this book, and I give here an article from 

 his pen on the rearing of calves : 



" The different modes of raising calves have an important 

 influence upon their future existence, whether for the dairy, for 

 the shambles, for breeding, or for the show ring, and in these 

 days of long strides and great improvements a great many are 

 fed for the latter purpose. 



" In our experience of twenty years, if for the dairy, we do 

 not force the animal, but after it is dropped it is allowed to re- 

 main with the dam until it is dry and gets a good draught of 

 milk, after which it is taken from her and the dam turned with 

 it morning and evening for six or seven days; if the cow does 

 well, the calf is then moved out of sight, and taught to drink the 

 milk instead of drawing it from the cow. 



" To teach the calf to drink without much trouble is an im- 

 portant point, and the plan adopted by us is to feed very little 



