52O FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



down to eight weeks. When calves are hand-fed, the 

 period of milk feeding is not usually extended to beyond 

 four months. The more completely the young animals are 

 accustomed to food supplemental to the milk taken, the 

 earlier the age at which they may be weaned without hin- 

 dering development. 



Feeding for quick conception. It is frequently a 

 matter of considerable importance that females shall breed 

 at a certain season of the year and .within the limit of a 

 somewhat short period. The object sought is to meet the 

 demands of the market better than if the progeny are 

 produced at other seasons. These demands relate in some 

 instances to the progeny itself, and in others to the ac~ 

 companying or resulting milk product. This may fre- 

 quently be attained, though not in all instances, by the na- 

 ture of the food given to the dam for a short time previously 

 to the mating season. 



Mares and cows maintained in reasonably high flesh 

 will usually come in heat at regularly occurring periods, 

 beginning with the former within a few days subsequently 

 to the birth of the foal, and with the latter within three 

 to six weeks of the birth of the calf. But in a considerable 

 proportion of instances, cows do not breed that suckle their 

 calves until a considerable proportion of the nursing period 

 has passed. Ewes and sows will not breed as a rule, while 

 nursing their young. Nor will females of any class breed 

 when the condition of the system is reduced beyond a cer- 

 tain point. But when thus reduced and nourishing, suc- 

 culent food is given to the extent of making a marked im- 

 provement in the vigor possessed by the animal, all the vital 

 forces share in such invigoration, and also all the functions 

 that may be operative at such a time, including those which 

 pertain to conception. From what has been said, it will 

 be apparent that it is much more difficult to influence con- 

 ception in animals already in good flesh. 



To secure quick conception in cows of moderate or 

 low flesh, they should be given more stimulating and nour- 

 ishing food rich in protein. It is in a sense imperative 



