DAIRY CATTLE AND THEIR PRODUCTS 171 



and made permanent by a share in the live stock of the farm, 

 and this share may begin with the ownership of a calf. 



Calves of dairy cows. In order to have the best milkers 

 among dairy cows, it is best to take the calves from them 

 when they have nursed once after birth. These calves should 

 then be fed the mother's milk by hand. Feed the calf about 

 two quarts of its mother's milk three times a day for two 

 weeks, then feed three quarts twice a day. Another way to 

 estimate the amount is to feed about one pound of milk to 

 ten pounds of live weight at first, increasing to three pounds 

 of milk to ten pounds of live weight. After about a month 

 keep whole oats in a box before the calf all the time. In 

 addition to the milk, feed shelled corn with clover hay; this 

 will make a good ration and cause the calf to grow. 



Calves of the beef-type should be allowed to run with the 

 mother, for such cows are not kept for their milk and the 

 calves will do better on natural feeding. 



Sheltering 1 and caring for calves. The most important 

 item in caring for young calves is the feeding and sheltering. 

 Calves are fed either to bring to maturity as milk cows, to 

 fatten for veal, or to push for the market as fat steers. To 

 make finished beeves for the market by August, calves weigh- 

 ing from 400 to 500 pounds, they must be pushed along rap- 

 idly. The following ration has been successful: Nine to 

 12 pounds corn, 3-6 pounds good clover or alfalfa hay, 8-10 

 pounds silage, daily. If one or two pounds of cottonseed 

 meal are added to this ration, the calves may be brought to 

 900 pounds or more in eight or nine months. The main 

 thing in feeding, however, is to be governed largely by the 



