RAISING CALVES WITHOUT MILK 255 



aged to eat hay as young and as freely as possible. By consum- 

 ing hay thus freely less grain is necessary for their raising, and 

 they are likewise to a considerable extent developed while young 

 in their capacity to handle roughage. The hay best adapted 

 to the use of young calves is second cut clover, or, if this is not 

 obtainable, then something approaching that as nearly as pos- 

 sible in character. Second cut meadow hay (rowen) is very good 

 indeed, because so tender and easily masticated. 



By rationally combining skim milk, ordinary grains and 

 tender hay, calves are regularly raised on the best dairy farms 

 at little expense and made to be perfect beauties while young 

 and valuable when older. 



Order of Feeding. — Warm skim milk, free from excessive 

 foam, is a highly nutritious feed for young animals of all kinds, 

 but it is delicate and easily made unfit if fed in a dirty germ- 

 laden pail, or if fed just after or immediately before the calf 

 has eaten silage. The acidity of the silage seems to sour the 

 milk before it can have time to digest. Calves so fed often 

 stand for some time belching gas and showing signs of distress. 

 A change in the order of feeding to grain, milk, hay and then 

 silage has brought relief and decidedly improved the condition 

 of the calves which had been so fed. 



Pasture for calves is of doubtful value. While small 

 amounts of grass will be consumed by the calf born in autumn 

 or winter it should not be required to consume large quantities 

 or to depend very largely upon grass for its sustenance. The 

 heat of an unshaded yard may easily undo the beneficial effects 

 to be secured from the outside run and if the calves are forced 

 to live out of doors during the latter portion of the summer, 

 when the grass is more or less tough and dry, and flies numer- 

 ous, there will usually be a period of stagnation in growth when 

 no advancement is made. Under such circumstances the calves 

 would be much better off eating their few pounds of hay, a little 

 grain, water, and skim milk if available, in the barn. Calves 

 should gain three-fourths to one and one-half pounds per day 

 when three to eight months old. 



Raising Calves Without Milk. — In regions which regu- 

 larly ship whole milk to cities the question of how to raise the 



