CHAPTER IV 



FEEDING CALVES 



We" cannot have good dairy cows unless we have well raised 

 calves. No farmer can succeed in breeding up his herd unless he 

 knows how to raise his calves properly and takes the time to do it. 

 Their proper feeding and management is just as important as that 

 of older animals. 



53. Grow the calves well. — One frequently hears the state- 

 ment from the dairyman that he cannot afford to raise his calves 

 any better because it is so expensive. It does cost money to raise 

 a calf properly and many are not worth it, but the point is that if 

 the calf is worth raising at all it is worth the feeding and care 

 which will mean a properly developed mature animal. Only those 

 calves should be raised which are normal and healthy at birth and 

 which have the breeding to make them valuable animals, and they 

 should have the kind of feeding and care which will grow them 

 normally so that their potential value will actually be realized. 



54. Treatment at birth. — At birth the navel stump should 

 be immediately disinfected with tincture of iodine. This can be 

 purchased at any drug store. The calf should be left with his 

 mother for at least two days. If he does not attempt to suck by 

 the time he is three to four hours old he should be helped. It is 

 important that the calf receive the milk secreted by the mother 

 the first forty-eight hours after birth because this milk, called 

 colostrum, is laxative and cleans out the calf's digestive system. 

 The only condition under which the calf should not be left with 

 his mother during the first two days is where the latter, through 

 being a very heavy producer and perhaps being fed for test, may 

 develop milk fever if suckled too much. If the calf is removed 

 under these conditions he should, nevertheless, receive the colos- 

 trum. 



55. Teaching calves to drink. — When the calf is removed 

 from his mother he should have a separate pen for at least a month. 



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