32 N. H. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 319 



Data reported heretofore have dealt w ith the diet wherein skim milk 

 plus concentrated cod-liver oil has been substituted for whole milk 

 feeding- at an early age. Under the conditions of feeding at the 

 university, this ration has afforded extremely satisfactory growth 

 and has produced calves apparently normal in every way. Much in- 

 terest has been shown in the use of concentrated cod-liver oil with 

 skim milk, but more information has been rec|uested regarding the 

 use of re-constituted skim milk since ordinar}- Huid skim milk is not 

 available on the average New Hami)shire dairy farm, reports K. S. 

 Morrow. 



In the winter of 1938-39 four calves were selected for this partic- 

 ular trial. Two were fed the reconstituted skim milk ration and two 

 were fed the regular skim milk ration. Concentrated cod-liver oil 

 was added to both rations. The calves were left with their dams 

 twelve hours following parturition. The dams' milk was fed on the 

 average of four days and then the calves were placed on the e.xjieri- 

 mental diet, the milk being- fed at a level aj^proximating 10 per cent 

 (.f the live weight, with a maximum of 16 pounds daily. The exper- 

 imental jieriod covered the first 180 days of age. 



The animals on the reconstituted skim milk ration did not make as 

 g'ood growth, measured by either body weight or heig-ht at withers 

 as did the two heifers on the regular skim milk. Until two months 

 of age, digestive disturbances were noticeable in the heifers on the 

 reconstituted milk. On several occasions scours were evident, and 

 during the entire feeding period, the feces appeared very sticky. 

 These animals could not be jnit on ma.ximum milk feeding as early 

 as the other two. More data are necessary for definite conclusions, 

 but the indications from the feeding t)f these two animals on recon- 

 stituted milk are that the ration was not as conducive to normal 

 growth and general well-being as a ration in which natural skim 

 milk was used. 



During the past summer a trial was conducted with four (juernsey 

 calves on limited whole milk feeding. This experiment was desig;ned 

 to test the feasibility of weaning calves from whole milk at six to 

 eight weeks of age and depending u]>on a dry ration of grain and 

 hay thereafter until six nu»nths of age. This tyi^e of ration would 

 be practical f)n many New Hampshire farms where whole milk is 

 limited and where the feeding of a fluid milk of any sort is discon- 

 tinuefl early. In a trial, skim milk ^lowder wns added to the regular 

 university calf ration to the extent of 25 jH-r cent, making the fol- 

 lowing mixture; 400 lbs. ground yellow corn. 300 lbs. wheat bran. 

 200 lbs. ground f)ats. 100 lbs. cottonseed meal. 100 lbs. linsi^ed oil 

 meal. 365 lbs. skim milk ]M(wder. 12 lbs. salt. 12 lbs. steamed bone 

 meal. .25 per cent (3.7 lbs.) cod-liver oil concentrate. Calves start- 

 ed on this grain at as early an age as the appetite permitted and 

 were fed u]) to a maximiun of 5 jiounds daily. Whole milk was ferl 

 nt the rate of about 10 per cent of the live weight. In this trial the 

 concentrated oil was added to the whole milk. 



The averag-e rate of growth for these calves was above normal al- 

 though they were weaned at 44 days of age. Most experiments of 

 this tv|)e have weaned the aiiimals at 8 or ^ weeks. The trials indi- 



