The feeding trials with these various mixtures have been carried on at widely 

 separated points, under varying conditions and in many cases with an insuffi- 

 cient number of animals; so that it is not possible to state positively which 

 type of substitute has given the most satisfactory results. The success of the 

 different types as measured by daily gain in weight of the calves has varied 

 from fair to excellent, largely due, no doubt, in most instances, to differences 

 in the vigor of the individual calves. In general fair growth has been pro- 

 duced, the average being about a povind to a pound and a quarter daily. The 

 few trials that have been made with the materials in Group 3 indicate that 

 they are more suitable for calves up to six or eight weeks of age than are 

 meals made from grains. Considering their source this is what would naturally 

 be expected. In Groups 1 and 2 linseed meal and some form of oats seem 

 to have been universally used. Obviously no statement as to comparative costs 

 can be made. That depends on current prices and materials locally available. 



Recent Experiments at tJiis Station. 



Our own more recent investigation of the problem commenced in the fall 

 of 1921, and is still in progress. This article reports results up to June, 

 1924, at which time seven different substitutes had been given a trial and forty- 

 five calves had been more or less successfully raised. 



In formulating our substitutes the following essentials have been taken into 

 consideration : 



1. Variety and completeness of protein. 



2. Sufficient carbohydrate to balance the ration satisfactorily. 



3. Plenty of vitamines. 



4. Sufficient mineral matter. 



Method of Feeding. 



Our method of feeding has been planned so as to have the calves weaned 

 from whole and skim milk as early as possible. The calves are left with their 

 dams only twenty-four hours, at the end of which time they are taught to drink 

 whole milk from a pail. The milk fed to them is always from one of the 

 lowest testing Holstein cows in the herd, and the maximum fed is six quarts 

 daily. When the calf is a week to ten daj's old the whole milk is gradually 

 replaced by skim milk. If it is a vigorous animal it will be receiving skim 

 milk entirely by the end of the second week. When the calf is from two to 

 three weeks old the skim milk is gradually replaced, a quart at a time, by a 

 gruel made from the meal which it is desired to give a trial. The gruel is 

 made by mixing the meal with water in the projDortion of 3% ounces of meal 

 to each quart of water. It is stirred up with, a little cold water first so lumps 

 will not form, and then the correct amount of warm water is added, and the 

 gruel fed at blood heat, never cold or very hot. Skim milk, while it continues 

 to be fed, is mixed with the gruel at feeding time. By the time the calf is 

 a month old it is receiving only two or three quarts of skim milk daily and 

 this is gradually withdrawn so that before it is two months old it is weaned 

 from milk entirely. Ten quarts of liquid is the average maximum fed. 



This schedule cannot be blindly adhered to, because calves differ greatly in 

 their individual appetites and ability to stand the changes in feed, but it serves 

 as a general guide. The calves have been taught to eat rowen and dry grain 

 as early as possible. Most of them have learned to eat these feeds at about 

 four to five weeks of age. 



The feeding trials have in every instance been discontinued at four months 

 of age as it is considered that by that time the critical period of the calf's ex- 

 istence has been passed. All calves have been weighed weekly and their prog- 

 ress carefully noted. 



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