The Young 215 



CARING FOR THE YOUNG, AND WEANING 



Young animals should always be allowed to have 

 the first milk, or colostrum, as this has a laxative effect 

 upon the bowels and assists in the removal of the 

 waste material which has collected before birth. When 

 this is wanting, a dose of castor -oil in warm milk 

 should be given. When it is necessary to wean 

 young animals, they should be placed in secure quar- 

 ters where there is no danger of injury, and far 

 enough away from the dam so that their cries may 

 not be heard. They should be taught to eat food 

 before weaning. This can be done in most cases by 

 placing the feed-trough or box low enough so that 

 they may eat with the mother. It is seldom advisable 

 to feed a large number of young animals in common, 

 as the stronger tend to gorge themselves and to prevent 

 the weaker from getting food. After weaning, young 

 animals should be fed frequently, a small amount of 

 food being given at a time. Colts are usually weaned 

 at from five to six months old. Calves are usually 

 taken from the cows two or three days after calving, — 

 as soon as the milk becomes normal. Pigs are weaned 

 at about two months old, and lambs at three to four 

 months. After weaning, the udder of the dam should 

 be milked often enough to relieve the pressure and to 

 prevent inflammation. When it is desired to ^'dry off" 

 the dam, the udder should not be milked dry. 



The greatest objection to patent feeding devices in 

 which milk is used as food for young animals is the 

 difficulty in keeping them clean and sweet. In weaning 



