182 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



lot, followed by the whole milk lot, while the lot raised by the 

 dams stood last. 



Taking the Calf from its Mother. There is some differ- 

 ence in practice regarding the time of beginning hand feeding. 

 Some take the calf away from its mother at once without 

 allowing it to nurse at all. Others prefer to 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 in the dairy. It probably makes very little difference 

 as to this point, but it is a fact easily established that the 

 earlier the calf is taken from the cow, the easier it will be to 

 teach it to drink. One that has never nursed is easily taught 

 to take the milk from a pail, while one a week or a month 

 old is often a difficult subject to teach. If the cow's udder 

 is in good condition when the calf is dropped, it will generally 

 be more satisfactory to take the calf away early. When the 

 udder is caked, it is best to leave the calf with her until this 

 condition is removed. One point that must be kept in mind 

 is that at first the milk from the mother should always be 

 given the calf, and not milk from some other cow. The first 

 milk, or colostrum, given by a cow is especially suited to the 

 requirements of a young calf, as it has the property of acting 

 as a physic and stimulating the digestive organs. 



Amount of Milk to Feed. Under natural conditions the 

 calf takes its milk frequently and in small quantities. The 

 calf's stomach at this time is not suited for holding a large 

 amount, and an excessive amount always results in indiges- 

 tion and scours. For the first two weeks five or six quarts, or 

 about ten or twelve pounds per day, is all the largest calf 

 should be allowed to take. A small calf, as a Jersey, does not 

 need over eight or ten pounds per day on the start. This 



