REARING OF CALVES 51I 



syrup, and after mixing them well, take an ounce of 

 linseed oil cake, finely beaten down, and strew it slowly 

 into the milk, stirring it all the while with a spoon, 

 until it is thoroughly incorporated ; and when it is so, 

 add to it the other portion of milk, and place it on the 

 iire until it is the warmth of new milk, when it may be 

 given to the calf Sometimes water is substituted for 

 milk ; when that is the case, let four ounces of linseed 

 meal be well boiled in a gallon of water, and afterwards 

 add half a pound of treacle, which must be added 

 when the linseed meal has been slowly and thoroughly 

 boiled. 



To secure health and strength to the calves, the 

 surest plan is to allow them to continue w^ith their 

 dam, and be suckled by her, until they have acquired 

 sufficient energy to provide for themselves. There- 

 fore they should be permitted to run about with her 

 for twelve months. Calves, however, are apt to 

 bruise the udder and teats, by butting against them 

 with their head while sucking. To obviate this, they 

 are prevented from sucking by means of a small piece 

 of leather, with little sharp iron spikes upon its outer 

 surface, and attached to the snout of the calf in such a 

 manner as to permit it to feed upon grass, while it will 

 prick the udder of its dam, and she will therefore not 

 permit the calf to suck her. The cow is only milked 

 twice a day, and it is at those times that the calf is 

 permitted to suck the teats of one side, while the 

 milkmaid strips those of the opposite side ; and when 

 she has completed the milking, the muzzle is again 

 replaced. 



In the great Yorkshire dairies, calves are hardly 

 ever permitted to suck ; they generally drink the new 

 warm milk from a pail. This is continued for two or 

 three weeks, and for the next three weeks they are 



