No. 4.j THE DAIRY HERD. 387 



Bearing and Developing Heifers. 



Sonic attention may well be paid to the selection of heifer 

 calves. Those of very small size, or weak or seriously 

 defective, have no place in the young herd. We are ac- 

 customed to have much regard to the parentage, and we do 

 well; but no less attention is due to the young heifer 

 herself. The next consideration is the growth of the calf. 

 At no period can growth be more economically secured than 

 during ealfhood. Only choice registered ealves are reared 

 on whole milk in this State, and it is doubtful if it will pay 

 to use whole milk for common stock where a cheaper sub- 

 stitute is available. A set-back during the first few weeks 

 is hard to overcome afterwards. Feeding a little whole 

 milk in the ration during the first month is one of the best 

 ways of insuring against set-backs. 



My practice of rearing calves has been to separate the 

 ealf from its dam after the first full meal. It is taught to 

 drink and feed on its mother's milk for a week, in moderate 

 feeds twice a day. Warm separator milk is gradually sub- 

 stituted during the second week, until it forms almost the 

 entire feed. About a quart of new milk per day is fed till 

 the end of the first month. Two feeds daily are given, 

 always warm and never excessive in amount ; but three 

 feeds per day would be better. Calves are taught to eat 

 dry grain after two weeks old, and given ad libitum a 

 mixture of corn meal, oil meal, bran and ground oats, in 

 about equal parts. Coarse forage — hay, silage or grass — 

 is always supplied to the extent of the calf's appetite. 



The horns are removed by the use of caustic potash dur- 

 ing the first two weeks, thus securing the benefits of 

 dehorned cows without disfigurement or trouble. 



While calves grow faster in almost complete confinement, 

 a hardier and more rugged cow results where they have 

 daily exercise in yard or pasture. The feed of skim-milk 

 is continued during most of the first year, if the supply 

 does not fall short. At all events, growth must be kept 

 rapid by liberal feeding, until the heifers are sent off to 

 pasture. Here, again, it is poor economy to keep stock on 



