302 



FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



simple and primitive method is putting two calves with each cow, 

 which is feasible where she yields a good flow of milk. Suckling 

 calves should gain 2 lbs., or over, per head daily if their dams are 

 good milkers. 



"While in some districts it is best to rear the beef calf on whole 

 milk from dam or pail, over large sections of the country it is more 

 profitable to sell the fat of the milk in butter or cream and rear the 

 calf on skim milk with proper supplements. This method involves 

 increased labor, skill, and watchfulness on the part of the feeder, 



Fia. 85. — A Farm Herd op Beef Cows and Calves 



The next few years should see good beef breeding herds established on thou- 

 sands of farms, to utilize land unsuited for tillage or such cheap feeds as corn 

 silage, corn stover, and straw. (From Breeder's Gazette.) 



but its success has been widely demonstrated. The method to be em- 

 ployed is like that already given for the rearing of the dairy calf, 

 except that the beef calf should be fed more liberally. Calves that 

 fail to thrive when sucking the cow or when fed on rich milk should 

 have their allowance reduced or should be given part skim milk. 



After weaning, growth should be continuous. If the calves are not 

 at pasture, they should be fed plenty of good roughage, with sufficient 

 concentrates to produce the desired gains. As with dairy heifers, 

 for young beef cattle nothing excels good legume hay, rich in pro- 

 tein and bone-building mineral matter. Where this is not available 



