MILK SUBSTITUTES FOR CALVES 121 



Summary and Conclusions 



In the work here reported, 51 calves have been reared on various milk prod- 

 ucts. Exclusive of [the liquid skim milk control lot, most rapid growth and 

 best use of feed consumed were obtained with a combination of skim milk powder, 

 red dog flour and yellow hominy, fed as a hquid. 



Skim milk powder when fed in large quantities (2 pounds or more daily), 

 especially after the second month, is too expensive. Fed alone it is unbalanced, 

 having a nutritive ratio of about 1 to 1.5. It should be supplemented with 

 such starchy grains as hominy, corn meal, or flour middlings. This latter state- 

 ment is true also for skim milk. 



Buttermilk powder has considerable value as a calf feed but is not as suitable 

 as skim milk powder for the method now recommended of limiting the supply 

 of milk products in the calf's ration after it is two months old. 



Diluted whole milk, fed as described under Group 7, is not recommended. It 

 produced growth below the average and the cost was higher than for other 

 methods that produced more growth. 



The method which has been the most satisfactory compromise between economy 

 and good growth has been the feeding of skim milk powder in limited amount (Group 

 3). If an extra good calf is desired, it is recommended that the skim milk powder 

 be supplemented with the red dog flour— hommy mixture. 



The following general statements seem warranted: 



1. Even though milk protein is very necessary, the economy of feeding any 

 form of milk products after the fourth month is doubtful. It is believed that 

 the supply of these in the calf's ration can be limited somewhat as early as the 

 third month. 



2. Until the calf is six weeks of age, a small amount of whole milk (1 to 2 

 quarts daily) is very desirable because of the fat it supplies. After that age the 

 fat can be supplied more economically in the grain. 



3. It is now known that weaning can be commenced at a much earlier age 

 than was formerly considered proper, but the economies effected in this way may 

 defeat their own purpose. Careful attention is being given to this phase of 

 the subject. 



4. Heavy grain feeding is unnecessary and uneconomical and may even be 

 undesirable because it discourages the calf from eating as much roughage as it 

 otherwise would and as is probably needed in order to develop the animal's 

 maximum feed capacity. The amount to be fed daily until the calf is six months 

 of age, from the standpoint both of economy and of satisfactory growth, is not 

 definitely established, but it is believed that three pounds daily should be suffi- 

 cient. Calves reared at this Station have done very well on two pounds daily un- 

 til one year of age, and good cows have been raised on a maximum of three pounds 

 daily up to the first freshening time. The roughage must be of good quality, 

 preferably rowen, alfalfa, or early cut first crop hay. Corn silage may be fed 

 after the first six months. 



Condensed Statement of the Method at Present Recommended 



At the risk of repetition, the method found to be the most satisfactory com- 

 promise between low feed cost and good growth is here repeated in condensed 

 form. 



1. Remove calf from dam in from 24 to 48 hours and teach it to drink whole 

 milk of rather low fat content. 



