BREEDS OF DAIRY CATTLE 189 



of the calf must be liberal in amount, easily digested and rich in 

 nutrients suitable for growth. The calf designed for beef purposes 

 may be pushed for the most rapid gains. The dairy calf should be 

 kept in a thrifty growing condition, but should not be allowed to 

 become fat. A calf intended for a dairy cow should not gain more 

 than one and one-half pounds per day for the first four months and 

 less thereafter. The most rapid gains with calves can be made with 

 mother's milk. Skim milk reinforced with hay and grain will pro- 

 duce satisfactory gains with calves, especially those designed for 

 dairy animals. Several substitutes for milk have been recommended 

 among which are hay tea and the various calf meals. (Conn. B. 

 43.) ' 



Skim-Milk Substitutes for Calf Raising. The calves had mixed 

 hay before them at all times, and all were provided liberally with 

 a grain mixture composed of 6 pounds of corn and oats, 3 of wheat 

 bran, and 1 of oil meal, which was supplemented with the different 

 feeds entering into the comparison. The records are given for from 

 4 to 5 months from birth, and include experiences for two seasons; 

 the first with skim-milk, Schumacher Calf Meal, and Lactina Suisse 

 (an imported powder said to be principally of vegetable origin) ; the 

 second, with skim-milk, Schumacher Calf Meal, Blatchford Calf 

 Meal, and skim-milk powder. The 'latter was purchased from the 

 Merrill-Soule Co., of Syracuse, N. Y., and was said to be dried skim- 

 milk. The substitutes for the skim-milk, were fed in gruel form. 

 It is evident from the results of these experiments and those else- 

 where, that good, strong, healthy calves can be raised without 

 skimmed milk or milk of any kind after the first thirty days. . . . 

 Skimmed milk, hay, and grain, make the best substitute for whole 

 milk in raising calves. (U. Y. Cor. B. 269.) 



The best substitute for the ordinary skim-milk seemed to be 

 the dried skim-milk powder. Schumacher Calf Meal was the best 

 commercial substitute, in the nature of grain. The Lactina Suisse 

 and the Blatchford Calf Meal were too expensive for economical 

 use, especially in view of the gains in weight which were made. 

 (R. I. B. 140.) 



Regularity and Care. Feeding the game time each day with 

 the same quantity and quality of milk, has much to do in maintain- 

 ing a healthful condition of the calf. With this should go the pre- 

 caution of providing a dry pen, warm and well ventilated in winter 

 and cool in summer. The calf is sensitive and should have kind 

 treatment. The successful calf feeder will watch his calves closely 

 and at the first signal of scours will cut down the supply of milk ; at 

 this time a couple of tablespoons of castor oil in scalded milk may 

 effect a cure. Persistent cases will require more strenuous treatment. 



Change in Character of Feed. When the skim milk diet is 

 stopped at any time from 6 to 12 months of age, it should be remem- 

 bered that the calf is deprived of a nitrogenous feed and its place 

 should be taken by some nitrogenous grain or roughage. The ten- 

 dency of the dairy calf to get too fat depends not only upon its tem- 

 perament but also upon its feed. Avoid too much corn. For grain, 



