-" -ARTMEXT OF AGRICULTIRE. 



RAISING CALVES ON WHOLE MILK. 



Although this is the most natural method, it is a costly process. After the first 

 month a calf needs an average of about 16 Ib. of milk a day. This means nearly 

 500 Ib. per month fior four months. When milk is wo^rth $1.50 per hundred, this 

 brings the cost for milk alone to $30 for four months' feeding. Some dairymen allow 

 one cow to nurse two calves. Others feed whole milk for only two or three months. 

 and then substitute grain for the milk. But calf-raising without skim-milk is at the 

 best an expensive method. 



RAISING CALVES ON SKIM-MILK. 



Skim-milk calves can be reared equally as good for dairy purposes as those 

 nursed by their mothers. Some calves raised on skim-milk are not a good advertise- 

 ment for the food, but this is because the milk is improperly fed, very often. 



SKIM-MILK A VALUABLE FOOD. 



The following table shows the average composition of whole milk and separator 

 skim-milk : 



It will be seen that skim-milk is a valuable food, being richer than whole milk 

 in everything except butter-fat. The fat does not go to form growth, but only to 

 supply body-heat and body-fat. This can be supplied just a< well by the cheaper 

 grain, while the valuable butter-fat is sold for human food as cream or butter. The 

 casein and albumen (protein) and the mineral matter all remain in skim-milk, and 

 these are the materials which build up muscles, bone, nerves, skin, hair, and hoofs. 

 The sugar (a carbohydrate) is converted into heat and fat in the body. Skim-milk 

 calves are economically raised. If properly fed they may be less fat. but they often 

 have more bone and muscle at weaning-time than whole-milk cah 



COST OF FEEDING SlX MOXTHS. 



During the first six months the skim-milk calf will require from 100 to 300 Ib. 

 of whole milk, between 2.300 and 3.000 Ib. of skim-milk, and up to 150 Ib. of grain, 

 besides hay or pasture. The cost of this feed will be less than one-third the cost of 

 whole-milk feeding. 



TAKIXG THE CALF FROM ITS MOTHER. 



Some take the calf away from its mother at once, without allowing it to nurse- 

 at all. Others let it nurse once; and some allow it to remain with the cow three 

 or four days or until the fever is out of the udder and the milk is fit for use iii the 

 dairy. When the calf is taken away at once, there is no fretting on the part of 

 mother or calf, and a calf that has never sucked is the easiest taught to drink from 

 the pail. When the cow's udder is very much inflamed or caked, it may be be- 

 leave the calf with her until the inflammation subsides. 



THE FIBST MILK OB COLOSTRUM. 



Whether the young calf is taken away from its mother at once or not, it must 

 get its own mother's milk at first. This yellow first milk contains substances, absent 



