452 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



PRACTICAL FEEDING THE CALF. 



In successful stock management we must start with a strong, vigor- 

 ous calf. This means good blood in both sire and dam, and that there 

 has been liberal feeding and good care for generations back. Where 

 cattle are reared under practically natural conditions, the rule that 

 young stock come in the spring must continue, but I am not so sure that 

 spring is the best time for the dropping of calves in the older settled 

 portions of the country. Spring calves are incapable of receiving much 

 benefit from grass during the first season, because for some time after 

 birth the ruminating stomach is undeveloped, and between summer heat 

 and pestering flies the thin-skinned creature has a sorry time of it. 

 Winter comes on with its dry food just when good progress has com- 

 menced, and this is apt to check growth, so that the animal is a full 

 year old before it starts on its career untrammeled. Our experience at 

 this station corresponds with that of thousands of farmers who are 

 strong advocates of having calves dropped in the fall. There is then 

 much time to give them the little attentions needed, and since they live 

 largely on milk they are easily managed in barn or shed, and occupy 

 but little room. W r hen spring comes the youngsters are large enough 

 to make good use of the pasture, and the result is good progress from 

 the start, and when fall conies they return to the barn large enough to 

 make good use of the feed there provided. Cows fresh in the fall yield 

 a good flow of milk during the winter, if well fed and comfortably housed ; 

 just when the milk flow begins to decrease materially cornes the favor- 

 able change to grass, under the stimulus of which the yield is increased 

 and held for some time. From our experience I put the annual yield of 

 milk at from 10 to 15 per cent greater from cows fresh in fall than those 

 which calve with the springing of the grass. Breeders of pedigreed 

 cattle will find an equal advantage with dairymen, I think, with fall 

 calves, for "the six months gained make stock a year from the next 

 spring of sufficient age to show up in fine style and practically command 

 the prices of two-year-olds. 



FEEDING THE CALF. 



Where the calf is allowed to run with the dam few precautions are 

 needed, the most important being to see that it does not get too much 

 milk, which may cause indigestion. If the calf remains with the dam 

 the cow's udder should be stripped out clean night and morning. Any 

 neglect in this particular may result in soreness to the teats and udder. 

 If the calf scours, the cow should be stripped three times a day; in 

 other words, reduce the quantity of milk the calf gets. A young calf 

 had better be a little hungry than gorged. After two or three months 

 separate the calf from the dam and allow it to suckle three times a day, 

 afterwards twice. The greatest danger under this system comes at 

 weaning time, when, if the calf has not been properly taught to eat solid 



