776 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



milk the first time or two. Three or four pints is enough, fresh 

 from the cow. Have some one to hold the vessel. Have the 

 calf tied or in some inclosure where it will have but little room. 

 Seize it under the chin with one hand and put the other hand on 

 its head, and force its mouth into the milk ; and in its endeavors 

 to release itself it is very likely to get a draught of the milk, 

 and will soon take to drinking. Do not allow the calf to have 

 the finger under any circumstances if it can be avoided, for the 

 more they tug at your finger the more they want to. If the calf 

 does not choose to drink the first time, do not worry it too long, 

 but let it wait until the next feeding time. Hunger will soon 

 get the best of it, and it will be only too glad to get its milk. 



" The quantity and quality of milk are important considera- 

 tions for the first few weeks. At the beginning very little skim- 

 milk should be given, and that perfectly sweet. Calves are often 

 made almost worthless by an indiscriminate feeding of milk in 

 its various stages. Their stomachs are not in condition to digest 

 such stuff, and they get the scours, become paunchy, the hair 

 stands the wrong way, and their looks show that they have not 

 been properly cared for. 



" If our calves are dropped in the fall or winter, they are 

 kept constantly housed in bad weather, and fed milk twice each 

 day, as near the same time, morning and evening, as circum- 

 stances will admit of, regularity in feeding, both in quantity 

 and quality, being a very important point. As soon as the calf 

 learns to drink, we increase the skim-milk each day for a period 

 of about two weeks. It js then three weeks old, and it is fed 

 three to four quarts of warm skim-milk twice each day. The 

 warm milk process is kept up until the calves are about three 

 months old, after which time they are taught to drink cold 

 milk by degrees, and the quantity is also lessened, until they are 

 finally weaned, at from four to five months old. 



" We always place a little hay within reach of our calves 

 when they are but a few weeks old. It seems to be necessary 

 for their proper development, and they very soon learn to eat 

 it. Clover and timothy mixed seem to make the best ration. 

 Clover alone is a little too loosening, and timothy a little too 



